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British university spinoff Mindgard protects companies from AI threats | TechCrunch

Dec 20, 2024 - techcrunch.com
AI poses a dilemma for companies, as improper implementation can lead to significant risks, while delaying adoption may result in missed opportunities. This has led to the emergence of "security for AI" startups like Mindgard, which focus on addressing AI-specific threats such as jailbreaks and prompt injections. Mindgard, a British university spinoff, offers a Dynamic Application Security Testing for AI (DAST-AI) platform that targets vulnerabilities detectable only during runtime. The platform employs continuous and automated red teaming to simulate attacks based on a threat library, enhancing the robustness of AI models against adversarial inputs. Mindgard's technology is rooted in the AI security expertise of its CEO and CTO, Professor Peter Garraghan, and benefits from ongoing research collaborations with Lancaster University.

Mindgard is a commercial SaaS platform catering to enterprises, red teamers, pen testers, and AI startups that require AI risk prevention solutions. The company recently raised an $8 million funding round led by Boston-based .406 Ventures, with plans to expand into the U.S. while maintaining R&D and engineering operations in London. With a current headcount of 15, Mindgard aims to grow to 20-25 employees by the end of next year. The startup is committed to ensuring AI can be used safely and securely, positioning itself to address the evolving security challenges as AI deployment becomes more widespread.

Key takeaways:

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  • Mindgard is a British university spinoff focused on AI security, using Dynamic Application Security Testing for AI (DAST-AI) to detect vulnerabilities during runtime.
  • The company has strong ties to Lancaster University, allowing it to automatically own the IP of work from 18 doctorate researchers, enhancing its research capabilities.
  • Mindgard recently raised an $8 million funding round led by .406 Ventures, with plans to expand into the U.S. while keeping R&D and engineering in London.
  • The company aims to provide AI risk prevention solutions to enterprises, red teamers, pen testers, and AI startups, ensuring AI can be used safely and securely.
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