Recently, Runlayer, a new security startup, officially launched its comprehensive AI security tools aimed at providing better data protection for enterprises. The company was founded in 2024 by Andrew Berman, a third-time entrepreneur, and has secured $11 million in seed funding from investors including Keith Rabois from Khosla Ventures and Felicis. Berman previously founded Nanit, a baby monitor manufacturer, and an AI video conferencing tool called Vowel.

Since Runlayer quietly launched its product, it has attracted dozens of clients, including Gusto, dbt Labs, Instacart, and Opendoor, within just four months. Notably, Runlayer also invited David Soria Parra, the chief creator of the MCP protocol, as an angel investor and advisor.

The MCP protocol was launched as an open-source project in November 2024 and has now become the de facto standard for connecting AI agents with required data and systems. It allows AI agents to access, move, and process data without human supervision and execute business processes. However, the protocol's lack of security has led to attacks in several implementations.

For example, in recent security research, Invariant Labs discovered an injection vulnerability in the MCP server that allowed access to private GitHub repositories that should have been protected, and Asana also found a potential vulnerability in its MCP server that could leak customer data. As a result, multiple companies have started to focus on the development of MCP security products.

Runlayer aims to provide a comprehensive security tool that combines gateway, threat detection, and observability features to meet enterprises' security needs. Runlayer's system allows IT departments to create custom AI automations, ensuring that access permissions for various users match those of AI agents.

Berman stated that the team's experience in this field enables Runlayer to address market challenges, especially in developing security products. They hope to help businesses use AI technology safely through innovative security tools and avoid potential security risks.

Key Points:

🌐 Runlayer launches a new AI security solution and secures $11 million in seed funding.  

🛡️ Security issues with the MCP protocol have raised awareness about AI agents and data protection.  

🚀 Runlayer is committed to providing an integrated security tool to ensure safe use of AI technology by enterprises.