Mindgard, an artificial intelligence security testing startup with roots in Britain’s Lancaster University, has raised an $8M funding round led by .406 Ventures, a Boston, Massachussets-based venture capital firm. Other fund participants include Atlantic Bridge, Willowtree Investments, and existing backers IQ Capital and Lakestar.
Continuous Security Testing and Automated AI Red Teaming
The startup’s premier solution is Dynamic Application Security Testing for AI (DAST-AI), which targets vulnerabilities that can only be detected while the AI workload operates.
Mindgard’s approach enables organizations to adopt AI securely by performing continuous security testing and automated AI red teaming across the AI lifecycle. This includes testing customers’ defensive postures to emerging generative AI threats using simulated attacks based on Mindgard’s threat library.
While addressing penetration testing, red teaming, and continuous monitoring are ideal use cases, the SaaS platform also demonstrates AI risk prevention.
Dr. Peter Garraghan, CEO of Mindgard and Professor at Lancaster University, articulates the AI cybersecurity challenge:
“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.”
The $8M seed funding will “accelerate R&D and propel Mindgard’s expansion into the United States,” according to the press release. A leadership presence is expected to expand in Boston.
The company’s website lists several career openings in London, U.K., including AI Security Analyst and AI/ML Security Research Scientist positions.
