PRESS RELEASE
Lakera, the global leader in real-time security powered by generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), has raised $20 million in a Series A funding round. Led by European VC Atomico, with participation from Citi Ventures, Dropbox Ventures, and existing investors including redalpine, the investment brings Lakera’s total funding to $30 million. This funding positions Lakera at the forefront of the global economy’s race to secure GenAI applications. As part of the funding round, Atomico Partner Sasha Vidiborskiy will join Lakera’s Board of Directors.
It was predicted that by 2026, 80% of enterprises will have used GenAI or GenAI-enabled applications in production environments, up from less than 5% in 2023. As enterprises around the world strive to harness the power of GenAI without exposing themselves to AI-specific risks, demand for Lakera’s platform is expected to continue to grow at a rapid pace.
While GenAI could add a estimated at $4.4 trillion annually to global GDP, cybersecurity remains the second most cited risk Traditional IT tools associated with its adoption are ill-equipped to address the new dangers it poses. This creates a critical need for security solutions that address GenAI-specific risks, without which businesses are unable to reap the benefits of AI.
David HaberLakera Founder and CEO Explains the Urgency:“With the advent of GenAI, legacy cybersecurity techniques are no longer enough. Businesses are now operating in a world where anyone who can talk can hack. Security solutions must evolve, but they must not hinder the user experience. There is a need for real-time AI security solutions that are constantly evolving and enable exceptional user experiences.”
David elaborates in his blog published today.
Cybersecurity Risks Posed by LLMs
The spectrum of LLM vulnerabilities is both diverse and serious:
Lakera’s comprehensive approach to AI security provides three key benefits to enterprises: protection that doesn’t slow down their AI applications; the ability to stay ahead of AI threats with ever-changing intelligence; and centralized implementation of AI security controls.
The company’s growth comes at a pivotal time in AI development. With the adoption of GenAI, users now drive software applications using natural language, and Lakera’s real-time AI security doesn’t compromise application interactivity. To make implementation easier for developers, the company’s API can be integrated into a single line of code, providing an ultra-low-latency security layer that is compatible with any GenAI model. Centralized controls allow security teams to customize application-specific policies and respond to emerging threats without changing code.
Lakera is uniquely positioned to address these evolving challenges, thanks in part to Gandalf, an AI education platform the company built that serves as the world’s largest AI red team. With over 250,000 unique users worldwide, including companies such as Microsoft Used in security training, Gandalf generates a real-time database of AI threats that grows with 100,000 unique attacks every day and keeps Lakera’s software up to date, ensuring customers are continuously protected. The 50+ million data points generated by Gandalf, combined with the founding team’s deep experience building AI systems with real-time requirements, enable Lakera’s customers to stay ahead of threats and deliver exceptional user experiences.
Sasha Vidoborskiy, Partner at Atomico, who will join Lakera’s Board of Directors, said: “Lakera has seen impressive market traction, winning customers like Dropbox and a top three US bank, and already having over 35% of the Fortune 100 on its doorstep. All of these customers have a pressing need to deploy GenAI applications in production, but can’t do so without protections in place. Easy integration, best-in-class performance, and low latency are why they choose Lakera. But most importantly, the company is led by David and his team, who are thought leaders in the field and have a deep understanding of what AI adoption means for new cybersecurity risks.”
“At Dropbox, ensuring the security of our systems and our customers’ data is a top priority,” said Donald TuckerHead of Corporate and Business Development at Dropbox“The Lakera team has deep expertise and a deep understanding of the complex security challenges that enterprises face with LLM and generative AI. Their advanced technology helps companies like Dropbox protect against the vulnerabilities that these new technologies pose. We are excited to strengthen our existing relationship with Lakera by investing in the future of the enterprise and AI security.”
Lakera plans to use this funding round to further invest in product development and expand its presence in the United States, where it already has a presence in Silicon Valley.
About Lakera
Lakera is the world’s leading real-time GenAI security company. Customers rely on Lakera for security that doesn’t slow down their AI applications. To accelerate the secure adoption of AI, the company created Gandalf, an educational tool where over 1 million users have learned about AI security. Lakera uses AI to continuously evolve defenses, so customers can stay ahead of emerging threats. Lakera was founded by David Haber, Mateo Rojas-Carulla, and Matthias Kraft in 2021.
About Atomico
Atomico invests in ambitious technology founders from seed to IPO, with a focus on Europe, leveraging deep operational experience to power their growth. Founded in 2006, Atomico has partnered with over 100 ambitious teams including Klarna, Supercell, Graphcore, Compass, MessageBird, Masterclass, Attentive Mobile, Pipedrive, and Hinge Health. Atomico’s team of founders, investors, and operating leaders have been responsible for the global expansion, recruiting, and marketing of companies ranging from Skype and Google to Twitter and Uber. The firm currently has $5 billion in assets under management.
