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Lakera, a Swiss cybersecurity for generative AI startup, just raised $20 million using this 10-slide pitch deck

2024-07-24T14:01:02Z

Lakera founders, David Haber, Matthias Kraft, and Mateo Rojas-Carulla

Lakera

Lakera, a Swiss cybersecurity startup, has raised $20 million in funding.
Its AI platform, Gandalf, helps companies like Microsoft manage security risks generated by AI.
The funding will double Lakera’s team to 60 and expand its Zurich and San Francisco offices, its CEO said.

Lakera, a Swiss cybersecurity startup designed for generative AI, has raised $20 million in funding.

Lakera’s AI platform, Gandalf, is used by companies like Microsoft to help assess and manage prospective security risks generated by AI.

The company, founded in 2021 and based in Zurich, says it has identified risks associated with generative AI, including prompt attacks using large language models and AI “sleeper agents” capable of jailbreaking, sometimes with just one image.

Lakera CEO David Haber said generative AI had created “a world where anyone who knows how to talk knows how to hack.”

“Security solutions need to change, but they can’t get in the way of user experience. There is a need for real-time AI security solutions that continuously evolve and enable amazing user experiences,” Haber told Business Insider in an interview.

European VC Atomico led the funding round, while Citi Ventures, Dropbox Ventures, and existing investors, including Redalpine, also participated.

Funding will go toward doubling the company’s team from around 30 staff to around 60 between its Zurich and San Francisco offices, Hader said.

Check out Lakera’s 10-slide pitch deck below: