Knostic Company Profile
Background
Overview
Knostic is a cybersecurity firm specializing in providing need-to-know access controls for Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI tools. Founded in 2023, the company is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with an additional office in Tel Aviv, Israel. Knostic's mission is to enable enterprises to safely adopt AI technologies by preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data within LLMs. Their vision is to be the leader in need-to-know-based access controls, facilitating secure AI deployment at scale.
Industry Significance
As organizations increasingly integrate AI into their operations, the risk of data leaks through LLMs has become a significant concern. Knostic addresses this challenge by offering solutions that ensure AI tools provide information appropriately based on user permissions and roles, thereby safeguarding sensitive corporate data.
Key Strategic Focus
Core Objectives
Knostic aims to:
- Implement need-to-know access controls for LLMs to prevent data oversharing.
- Accelerate the adoption of AI technologies within enterprises without compromising security.
- Drive AI-powered innovation while maintaining data privacy and compliance.
Areas of Specialization
The company specializes in:
- AI security and data access governance.
- Developing solutions to prevent data leaks through LLMs.
- Providing visibility and remediation for AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Key Technologies Utilized
Knostic employs:
- Need-to-know access control frameworks.
- Knowledge-centric capabilities for AI tools.
- Automated remediation processes for data oversharing.
Primary Markets Targeted
The company primarily targets:
- Enterprises adopting LLMs and generative AI tools.
- Organizations seeking to secure AI implementations and manage internal knowledge distribution.
Financials and Funding
Funding History
Knostic has raised a total of $14 million in funding through two rounds:
1. Pre-Seed Funding (April 2024): Raised $3.3 million from investors including Shield Capital, Pitango First, DNX Ventures, and Seedcamp.
2. Seed Funding (March 2025): Secured an additional $11 million, bringing the total funding to $14 million.
Utilization of Capital
The funds are intended to:
- Enhance Knostic's offerings to support enterprises in their AI transformation.
- Add customizable safety layers to tools such as Microsoft 365 Copilot and Glean.
- Bolster the company's position in the enterprise AI security market.
Pipeline Development
Key Pipeline Candidates
Knostic focuses on:
- Developing solutions to prevent data leaks through LLMs.
- Enhancing AI security frameworks for enterprise applications.
Stages of Development
The company is in the early stages of product development, focusing on:
- Implementing need-to-know access controls for LLMs.
- Providing visibility and remediation for AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Target Conditions
Knostic's solutions aim to address:
- Data oversharing and inference risks in AI tools.
- Compliance challenges related to AI data access.
Anticipated Milestones
The company plans to:
- Expand its product offerings to cover additional AI tools and platforms.
- Achieve broader adoption of its solutions across various industries.
Technological Platform and Innovation
Proprietary Technologies
Knostic's proprietary technologies include:
- Need-to-know access control frameworks for LLMs.
- Automated remediation processes for data oversharing.
Significant Scientific Methods
The company employs:
- Knowledge-centric capabilities for AI tools.
- Automated remediation processes for data oversharing.
AI-Driven Capabilities
Knostic's AI-driven capabilities focus on:
- Preventing data leaks through LLMs.
- Enhancing AI security frameworks for enterprise applications.
Leadership Team
Key Executives
- Gadi Evron: CEO and Founder. A recognized cybersecurity expert and serial entrepreneur, Gadi previously founded Cymmetria (acquired) and led PwC’s Cyber Security Center.
- Sounil Yu: CTO and Founder. Creator of the Cyber Defense Matrix and former Chief Security Scientist at Bank of America.
- Jonathan Braverman: Chief of Staff. Brings years of experience in legal and back-office operations, previously working as a Senior Project Manager at Citi.
- Shahar Davidson: VP Engineering. With over 20 years of R&D and engineering experience, Shahar has held leadership roles at Build.