Mindgard, a London-based deep technology startup focused on enhancing security measures for artificial intelligence, has successfully raised £6.5 million in funding, marking a significant step towards its expansion into the United States market. The funding round was led by .406 Ventures and saw participation from Atlantic Bridge, Willowtree Investments, along with existing investors IQ Capital and Lakestar.
Founded as a spinout from Lancaster University, Mindgard has appointed two key industry leaders to bolster its operations. Dave Ganly, who previously held the position of director of product at Twilio, and Fergal Glynn, who served as Chief Marketing Officer at Next DLP prior to its acquisition by Fortinet, have been brought on board to facilitate Mindgard's market entry in North America, particularly establishing a presence in Boston.
Mindgard's innovative platform, which was developed following intensive research at Lancaster University, offers automated threat analysis, detection, and response capabilities. It is currently in use by the intelligence community and fully integrates with leading cybersecurity products. The company is also part of the NVIDIA Inception Programme and Microsoft Founder’s Hub, illustrating its commitment to leveraging state-of-the-art technologies in cybersecurity.
“The rapid adoption of AI has introduced new and complex security risks that traditional tools cannot address,” stated Greg Dracon, partner at .406 Ventures. He emphasized the importance of Mindgard's unique approach to addressing the distinct challenges associated with securing AI technologies. “Mindgard’s innovative approach equips security teams and developers with the tools they need to deliver secure AI systems. Mindgard is well-positioned to lead this emerging market and we are thrilled to partner with them on this journey,” he added.
Dr Peter Garraghan, CEO of Mindgard and a professor at Lancaster University, highlighted the unique nature of security risks associated with AI. “All software has security risks, and AI is no exception. The challenge is that the way these risks manifest within AI is fundamentally different from other software. Drawing on our 10 years of experience in AI security research, Mindgard was created to tackle this challenge. We’re proud to lead the charge toward creating a safer, more secure future for AI,” Garraghan remarked.
As AI technologies continue to proliferate across various sectors, the emergence of startups like Mindgard signifies an important shift towards addressing the potential vulnerabilities that accompany such advancements. The company’s efforts reflect a growing recognition within the industry of the need for robust security measures as part of a broader strategy to harness the benefits of AI automation in business practices.
Source: Noah Wire Services