While it is estimated that 80% of enterprises will have deployed GenAI applications in production environments, the challenge remains how to secure these applications against AI-specific risks since GenAI introduces new attack methods, including prompt and data poisoning attacks, which can exploit the model to take unintended actions. Based in Zurich and San Francisco, Lakera is at the forefront of AI safety and security to fill this gap.
Founded in 2021 by David Haber, Mateo Rojas-Carulla and Matthias Kraft, Lakera developed Lakera Guard, a real-time GenAI security solution that empowers developers to activate this vulnerability data with one line of code, instantly embedding a security layer into AI applications in production. By inserting a single API call in their applications, customers centralize AI security, whereby security teams can set application-specific policies and address emerging threats without developers making any changes to their GenAI model and applications.
The solution is powered by a proprietary database that combines over 50 million data points generated by Gandalf – Lakera’s viral AI education game played by over half a million users and thousands of organizations worldwide, including Microsoft, where it's used in security training – with open-source databases and its own dedicated research. Gandalf generates real-time AI threat data that grows by tens of thousands of unique new attacks every day.
With companies like Dropbox and a top-three US bank amongst its customers and hundreds of enterprises proactively reaching out to get protected, Lakera is a sought after security solutions provider.
The company has raised $20 million in a Series A funding round led by Atomico, with participation from Citi Ventures, Dropbox, and existing investors, including redalpine and the participation from the venture arms of a major financial services firm and an iconic SaaS company, underscoring the urgency and importance of securing GenAI applications for enterprises. The round brings Lakera’s total funding to date to $30 million and positions the company to lead the real-time GenAI application security category.
The proceeds from the funding round will accelerate product development, go-to-market strategy and expand its presences in the US and Europe.
Donald Tucker, Head of Corporate Development and Ventures at Dropbox, said: "Lakera's team has extensive expertise and a deep understanding of the complex security challenges companies are facing with LLMs and Generative AI. Their advanced technology is helping companies like Dropbox safeguard against vulnerabilities these new technologies pose."
As part of this investment, Atomico partner Sasha Vidoborskiy will join Lakera’s board.
(Press release/RAN)