Barker, a FinTech firm specializing in transforming illiquid asset valuations into insurance-backed instruments, has secured $3.5 million in funding led by Walkabout VC to accelerate the expansion of its agentic valuation system for asset-backed finance.
Barker addresses a critical challenge in asset-backed lending: the lack of accurate and enforceable appraisals for complex illiquid assets, such as private jets, art, equipment, and GPUs. The company provides real-time, insurer-backed valuations. Uniquely, Barker warranties these valuations, with the error gap covered by Munich Re’s aiSure performance guarantee insurance if an asset sells for less than the AI-predicted value. This mechanism aims to transform subjective opinions into enforceable instruments, fostering confidence and capital deployment.
Thomas Galbraith, CEO and co-founder of Barker, stated, “Valuations should empower lending, not constrain it. We are the trust layer for asset-based finance. Offering highly accurate AI-based valuations with insurance protection supports lenders with the trust they need to turn illiquid assets into investable capital.”Walkabout VC’s investment highlights a growing market demand for advanced technology and risk mitigation solutions within asset-backed lending. Josh Diamond, General Partner at Walkabout VC, commented, “Barker is solving for the lack of confidence in illiquid collateral valuation across all asset-backed lending. We are excited to back the team as they scale to establish the global standard for asset valuation trust.”This funding round follows a period of growth for Barker, which launched its partnership with Munich Re in Q1 2025. Since the partnership’s inception, Barker has conducted $2 billion in valuations and has received approval for use by major banks and private lenders, whose identities remain confidential. Michael von Gablenz, Head of Insure AI at Munich Re, noted, “Unreliable asset prices lead to unpredictable risks in lending. Our AI insurance partnership with Barker demonstrates the power of combining innovative technology with proven risk protection.”Barker intends to utilize the new capital to accelerate its expansion into additional asset classes and strengthen existing partnerships with key market participants, reinforcing its commitment to the asset-based finance sector.
