In an exclusive interview, Tarini Sai Padmanabhuni, Founder and CEO of DetectifAI, a deeptech startup focused on detecting audio deepfakes, discussed how deeptech innovation is combating the rising threat of synthetic audio deepfakes. Padmanabhuni began learning machine learning in Grade 6 and was initially drawn to the technology itself. The transition to entrepreneurship occurred when a close family member, her grandfather, became a victim of a scam, making her realize how powerful and dangerous the misuse of technology could become. After studying the technical challenges of detecting AI-generated audio, she began speaking with cybersecurity companies and potential users, receiving validating responses that confirmed the need for such technology. Today, DetectifAI is building foundation models and infrastructure for audio deepfake detection, working across the broader voice security space including synthetic voice detection and voice authenticity, and exploring multiple research directions and patent applications related to audio deepfake detection.