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Based in Palo Alto, California, Akto is an artificial intelligence cybersecurity platform that automatically discovers, tests, and protects application programming interfaces, AI agents, and model context protocols. Founded in 2021 by Ankita Gupta and Ankush Jain, the enterprise software company secures modern development pipelines for over 1,000 application security teams, encompassing 20 of the Fortune 100 and prominent customers like Postman. Operating with a hybrid open source and paid tier business model, the firm has raised four and a half million dollars in seed funding from institutional backers including Accel, LocalGlobe, and Tenable Ventures. The platform utilizes machine learning algorithms to integrate automated vulnerability detection, security testing, and remediation guardrails directly into continuous integration and deployment workflows. By shifting security left, the software provider enables continuous threat detection across financial services, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors.
Akto has raised $5.0M across 1 funding round.
Akto has raised $5.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Akto is a Palo Alto-based cybersecurity company founded in 2021 that builds a proactive, AI-powered platform for securing APIs, AI agents, and Model Context Protocols (MCPs). Its core product suite includes automated API discovery from over 50 traffic and code connectors, vulnerability testing with a library of 1,000+ tests, runtime protection, sensitive data detection, and security posture management, all integrated into DevSecOps pipelines.[1][3][5] Akto serves Fortune 500 security teams across financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, public sector, e-commerce, automotive, and technology, protecting 20 of the Fortune 100, 150 of the Fortune 1000, and over 1,000 AppSec teams—including 8 of the top 10 firms in key sectors like finance and manufacturing.[3][5] The platform solves the exploding risks from API proliferation and agentic AI deployments by enabling continuous discovery, red teaming, guardrails, and real-time fixes, with recent momentum from launching the industry's first Agentic AI Suite in April 2025, which deploys autonomous AI agents for adaptive threat response.[1][3]
Akto was co-founded in 2021 by Ankita Gupta (CEO) and Ankush Jain (CEO), who recognized APIs as a critical vulnerability in modern software amid rising cyberattacks targeting them.[1][4] Gupta, emphasizing the shift to agentic AI, noted that challenges unsolvable in 2024—like matching security pace to rapid development—are now addressed via AI agents acting as an "extension of the team" in tools like Slack or Teams.[1] From its early focus on API discovery and testing, Akto gained traction with integrations for DevOps workflows and recognition in Gartner's 2024 Market Guide for API Protection as a Representative Vendor, plus top customer rankings in 2025 Gartner Peer Insights for API Security.[3][5] Pivotal moments include scaling to enterprise adoption and the 2025 launch of Agentic API Security Experts, transforming it into a leader for AI agent and MCP security.[1][3]
Akto stands out in API and AI security through these key strengths:
Akto rides the agentic AI and API explosion trend, where enterprises deploy millions of AI agents and MCP tools but face "AI chaos" from hidden endpoints and evolving attacks—9/10 security leaders cite discovery as critical.[3] Timing is ideal post-2024 API threats, with Akto shifting security "left" into DevOps for proactive protection amid microservices growth and breaches via misconfigurations.[1][4] Market forces like regulatory pressures (e.g., on sensitive data) and AI adoption favor its real-time, automated model over legacy tools, influencing the ecosystem by setting standards for AI guardrails and enabling faster, safer app development for Fortune 500 teams.[3][5]
Akto is poised to dominate agentic AI security as enterprises scale AI agents in production, with plans to expand its AI suite, refine via real-world feedback, and deepen workflow integrations like Slack/Teams.[1][3] Trends like continuous red teaming and endpoint/cloud guardrails will shape its path, potentially capturing more market share as API/AI threats intensify. Its influence may evolve from API specialist to full AI security platform, empowering AppSec teams to "hire" AI workforces—turning vulnerability chaos into controlled, agile defense, much like its founding vision of proactive protection in a DevOps world.[1][4]
Akto has raised $5.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Akto's investors include Accel, Helion Venture Partners, Jungle Ventures, Kreos Capital, SmartStart Fund, Alexis Le-Quoc, Stephan Dietrich, Akshay Kothari, Milin Desai, Renaud Deraison.
Akto has raised $5.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $5.0M Seed in November 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2022 | $5M Seed | Accel | Helion Venture Partners, Jungle Ventures, Kreos Capital, Smartstart Fund, Alexis LE Quoc, Stephan Dietrich, Akshay Kothari, Milin Desai, Renaud Deraison | Announced |
