Adaptive Security

Safeguarding Businesses Against AI-Driven Cyber Threats with $43M Backing

In a world where cybercrime is evolving faster than most organizations can keep up with, Adaptive Security steps in as a next-generation defense platform tailored for the AI era. With sophisticated threats like deepfakes, generative AI phishing, and voice impersonation on the rise, the startup has positioned itself at the forefront of digital protection — and top-tier investors are taking notice.

Founded by Brian Long and Andrew Jones — the seasoned entrepreneurs behind the success of Attentive — Adaptive Security raised $43 million in April 2025 in a funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz and the OpenAI Startup Fund. This marked OpenAI's first-ever investment in a cybersecurity company, a strong signal of how crucial this space has become. Other notable backers include Abstract Ventures, Eniac Ventures, CrossBeam Ventures, K5 Global, and executives from Google, Workday, Shopify, and more.

Quick Overview

  • Founding Year: 2025

  • Founders: Brian Long (CEO), Andrew Jones (Chief Product Officer)

  • Funding Stage: Series A

  • Total Amount Raised: $43 million

  • Latest Funding Round: April 2025 (Led by a16z and OpenAI Startup Fund)

  • Team Size: Not publicly disclosed

  • Pricing Strategy: Scalable based on employee count; custom quotes available

From SMS Scams to Deepfakes: A New Kind of Cybersecurity

Adaptive Security’s mission is to defend organizations against a new breed of cyberthreats that use artificial intelligence as their weapon of choice. These threats don’t just break into systems — they exploit human trust. Think AI-generated audio messages that mimic a CEO’s voice, or hyper-personalized phishing attacks crafted with uncanny precision.

To counter this, Adaptive Security has built a comprehensive platform that blends technical simulation and human training. Companies can now prepare their employees with deepfake phishing tests, simulate SMS-based attacks, and receive personalized training modules that evolve alongside the threat landscape.

Brian Long and Andrew Jones are no strangers to scaling high-impact startups. At Attentive, they built a business that served over 8,000 customers and brought in more than $500 million in annual revenue. Their return to the startup world with Adaptive Security is driven by a clear vision: equip businesses to stay one step ahead in the cybersecurity arms race.

Use Cases

Adaptive Security serves a wide array of industries — all of which are increasingly vulnerable to AI-powered cyber attacks:

  • Financial Services: With deepfake fraud incidents multiplying, banks and fintechs are turning to Adaptive Security for early detection and real-time response solutions.

  • Healthcare: The platform provides critical infrastructure to protect sensitive patient data from AI-enabled impersonation or phishing schemes.

  • Technology Companies: High-growth tech firms leverage Adaptive Security to mitigate risks from voice phishing and internal breaches triggered by social engineering.

Technology & Product

Adaptive Security's platform is built around artificial intelligence and real-time data analysis, designed to prevent modern threats before they cause harm:

  • OSINT-Powered Risk Scoring: Tracks an organization’s digital footprint across public data to calculate its exposure to social engineering attacks.

  • Deepfake Phishing Simulations: Creates realistic test scenarios using AI-generated content (audio, video, and text) to assess employee vulnerability.

  • Personalized Training: Delivers role-specific security awareness content that adapts to user behavior and new threat vectors.

  • Integrations: Built to plug into existing security stacks, ensuring a frictionless experience for IT and compliance teams.

  • Product Maturity: Despite launching recently, the product is already seeing strong adoption and positive reviews from CISOs and security directors.

Market & Competition

The cybersecurity market is undergoing a radical transformation, spurred by the growing use of AI in attack methodologies. As deepfake technology becomes cheaper and more convincing, traditional security tools fall short. Adaptive Security enters a fast-growing niche that’s expected to expand significantly over the next five years.

While it competes with platforms like ThriveDX, Cybrary, and CompTIA, Adaptive stands apart through its AI-centric approach, especially its ability to simulate voice, SMS, and visual-based attacks. Regulatory pressure in sectors like finance and healthcare also creates tailwinds for adoption, as organizations must demonstrate readiness against sophisticated, AI-assisted threats.

The barriers to entry in this space are steep — from the technical complexity of generating real-time deepfake simulations, to the need for enterprise-grade training that feels intuitive and engaging. But Adaptive’s blend of elite founding talent, smart capital, and timely positioning puts it in a strong position to lead.

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