Onyx Security Funding: New Startup Launches with $40 Million to Secure Enterprise AI

Onyx Security has officially launched, announcing $40 million in funding from venture firms Conviction and Cyberstarts. The new startup focuses on securing the enterprise use of artificial intelligence agents and managing their associated risks. Onyx Security funding positions the company to address immediate industry needs, already serving multiple Fortune 500 customers with a global employee base.

What Happened

Onyx Security made its official market debut. The company secured $40 million in funding, with investment led by Conviction and Cyberstarts. Its core offering is a platform designed to help businesses manage the growing risks from increasingly autonomous AI systems.

Details From Sources

The Problem: Unpredictable AI Agents

AI agents are rapidly becoming a core part of company operations. These systems introduce risks due to unpredictable behavior, leading to potential operational and security issues. Errors in reasoning, also known as “hallucinations,” can result in unintended actions, while attackers may exploit agents using crafted prompts. Traditional cybersecurity tools are not designed for these autonomous systems operating within business workflows.

Onyx Security’s Solution: Secure AI Control Plane

Onyx Security introduces its Secure AI Control Plane, a centralized platform to oversee AI agents. This secure AI platform identifies AI agents, monitors their reasoning, and can approve or correct actions to ensure compliance. Intervention methods include blocking actions, requiring human approval, or redirecting decision-making in real time. The system utilizes proprietary AI models and supervisory agents.

Founders and Leadership

Co-founder and Chief Executive Maxim Bar Kogan leads Onyx Security. Bar Kogan is a cybersecurity executive with experience from Unit 8200 of the IDF. Co-founder Gil Elbaz is an AI researcher who worked under Nvidia’s CTO and served in an IDF AI research unit. Maxim Bar Kogan, co-founder and CEO of Onyx, stated, “Enterprises are rapidly becoming agent operators and need strong guarantees that agents will not make mistakes or be compromised.”

Company Scale and Operations

Onyx Security currently serves multiple Fortune 500 companies. The company employs more than 70 individuals. These employees are located across Israel, the United States, and Canada, reflecting a global operational presence.

Why This Matters

The integration of AI systems into business operations presents a new security challenge for enterprises. These systems make decisions, access sensitive information, and are embedded in critical business processes. Traditional security tools are often insufficient to address this unique enterprise AI security and AI agent risk landscape.

Background Context

Autonomous AI systems are seeing increased deployment across various departments, including engineering and customer service. The backgrounds of Onyx Security’s founders in cybersecurity and AI research directly address the complex challenges posed by these advanced systems.

Industry Reactions

Hila Zigman, a partner at Cyberstarts, commented on the new security challenges posed by AI systems. Zigman stated, “These are not just software tools to be protected — they are systems that make decisions, access sensitive information and are integrated into critical business processes.” She added that “Onyx is building a solution designed for the AI era rather than trying to adapt legacy tools.”

Related Data or Statistics

• Number of employees: more than 70.
• Customer base: multiple Fortune 500 companies.
• Global presence: across Israel, the United States, and Canada.

Future Implications (SPECULATIVE)

Onyx Security plans to use its new funding to expand its engineering and product teams. The company also intends to develop additional AI models and scale its sales efforts. This expansion is driven by a growing demand for systems that can oversee AI agents in large enterprises, representing future plans rather than guaranteed outcomes.

Conclusion

Onyx Security has launched with significant Onyx Security funding to address the critical need for secure management of AI agents in enterprises. Its mission to secure autonomous AI systems through the Secure AI Control Plane aims to mitigate complex risks. The company’s platform seeks to provide robust governance for AI-driven operations.

Call to Action

To learn more about the evolving landscape of enterprise AI security, consult resources from industry experts.

FAQ Section

• Q1: What is Onyx Security’s primary focus?
  A1: Onyx Security focuses on securing the enterprise use of artificial intelligence agents.
• Q2: How much funding did Onyx Security receive and from whom?
  A2: Onyx Security received $40 million in funding from venture firms Conviction and Cyberstarts.
• Q3: What specific risks do AI agents pose that Onyx Security addresses?
  A3: AI agents pose risks such as unpredictable behavior, operational and security risks, errors in reasoning (hallucinations), and potential exploitation by attackers using crafted prompts.
• Q4: Who are the founders of Onyx Security?
  A4: Onyx Security was founded by Maxim Bar Kogan, a cybersecurity executive from IDF Unit 8200, and Gil Elbaz, an AI researcher who previously worked under Nvidia’s CTO and served in an IDF AI research unit.
• Q5: How will Onyx Security use its new funding?
  A5: The new funding will be used to expand engineering and product teams, develop additional AI models, and scale sales efforts to meet demand for systems overseeing AI agents in large enterprises.