Lakera, a Swiss startup developing technology to protect generative AI applications from security threats, has raised $20 million in a Series A funding round. The investment was led by European venture capital firm Atomico, with participation from Citi Ventures, Dropbox Ventures, and existing investor redalpine.
The funding round brings Lakera’s total capital raised to $30 million, positioning the company at the forefront of the growing generative AI security market. As part of the deal, Atomico Partner Sasha Vidiborskiy will join Lakera’s board.
Lakera’s platform addresses the unique security challenges posed by generative AI applications, which are expected to see widespread adoption in the coming years. Gartner predicts that by 2026, 80% of enterprises will have used generative AI or generative AI-enabled applications in production environments, up from less than 5% in 2023.
David Haber, Founder and CEO of Lakera, emphasized the urgency of developing new security solutions for the AI era. “With the advent of generative AI, the old cybersecurity techniques aren’t sufficient,” Haber said. “Enterprises now operate in a world where anyone who knows how to talk knows how to hack.”
The company’s technology aims to protect against various AI-specific threats, including prompt attacks, AI “sleeper agents,” and AI-targeted worms. Lakera’s approach focuses on providing real-time protection without compromising application performance, continuously evolving defenses, and offering centralized implementation of AI security controls.
Lakera’s customer base already includes major tech companies and financial institutions. Donald Tucker, Head of Corporate Development and Ventures at Dropbox, cited the company’s “extensive expertise and deep understanding of the complex security challenges companies are facing with LLMs and Generative AI” as key factors in their decision to invest.
The startup plans to use the new funding to further develop its product and expand its presence in the United States, where it has already established a foothold in Silicon Valley.
As generative AI adoption accelerates, Lakera’s growth highlights the increasing importance of specialized security solutions in this rapidly evolving field. The company’s ability to secure high-profile customers and attract significant investment suggests growing recognition of the unique security challenges posed by generative AI technologies.