In a significant move that highlights the escalating arms race in cybersecurity, AI security firm depthfirst announced a $40 million Series A funding round on Wednesday, positioning the startup at the forefront of defense against increasingly sophisticated AI-powered cyber attacks. The substantial investment, led by Accel Partners with participation from SV Angel, Mantis VC, and Alt Capital, signals growing venture capital confidence in AI-native security solutions as organizations worldwide grapple with threats that evolve at machine speed.
AI Security Startup depthfirst Raises $40 Million in Series A Round
Founded just months ago in October 2024, depthfirst has rapidly emerged as a notable player in the competitive cybersecurity landscape. The company’s rapid funding achievement reflects the urgent market demand for solutions that can match the pace of AI-driven threats. According to cybersecurity analysts, the traditional security paradigm has become increasingly inadequate against attacks that leverage artificial intelligence for automation, adaptation, and scale.
Depthfirst’s platform, called General Security Intelligence, represents a fundamentally different approach to enterprise security. Rather than relying on signature-based detection or manual analysis, the AI-native suite continuously scans and analyzes codebases and workflows for subtle indicators of compromise. Furthermore, the platform provides comprehensive protection against credential exposures while monitoring threats targeting open-source and third-party components—a critical vulnerability vector in modern software development.
The Escalating AI Cybersecurity Arms Race
The cybersecurity landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years. Cybercriminals now routinely employ artificial intelligence to automate malicious processes that previously required significant human effort. These AI-powered attacks range from sophisticated malware generation and hyper-targeted social engineering campaigns to automated vulnerability scanning and exploitation. Consequently, defensive technologies must evolve at a comparable pace to maintain effectiveness.
Last November provided a stark warning when Anthropic reported thwarting what it described as the first “AI orchestrated cyber espionage campaign.” This incident demonstrated that AI-driven attacks have moved from theoretical concerns to operational realities. Security experts now warn that defensive systems relying on traditional methods will inevitably fall behind as offensive capabilities continue to advance through artificial intelligence.
Leadership with Deep AI and Security Expertise
Depthfirst’s leadership team brings substantial credentials from both artificial intelligence and cybersecurity domains. Co-founder and CEO Qasim Mithani previously held positions at Databricks and Amazon, where he witnessed firsthand how automation transforms both defensive and offensive capabilities. “We’ve entered an era where software is written faster than it can be secured,” Mithani stated in the funding announcement. “AI has already changed how attackers work. Defense has to evolve just as fundamentally.”
The company’s other co-founders strengthen its technical foundation. Daniele Perito served as director of security and risk engineering at Square (now part of Block), while CTO Andrea Michi brings engineering experience from Google DeepMind. This combination of practical security operations and cutting-edge AI research positions depthfirst uniquely to address the complex challenges at the intersection of these fields.
Strategic Allocation of $40 Million in New Capital
Depthfirst plans to deploy its newly acquired capital across several strategic areas. The company will significantly expand its applied research and engineering teams to enhance its AI detection capabilities. Additionally, investments in product development and sales will accelerate market adoption of the General Security Intelligence platform. This balanced approach between technological advancement and commercial growth reflects the company’s ambition to establish industry leadership.
The funding round follows depthfirst’s development of partnerships with prominent companies including AngelList, Lovable, and Moveworks. These early adopters validate the platform’s practical value in real-world environments. The table below outlines the key investment participants and their roles:
| Investor | Role | Notable Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Accel Partners | Lead Investor | Enterprise Software, Cybersecurity |
| SV Angel | Participant | Early-Stage Technology |
| Mantis VC | Participant | Technology Innovation |
| Alt Capital | Participant | Emerging Technologies |
The Broader Implications for Enterprise Security
Depthfirst’s funding and technological approach reflect several important trends in the cybersecurity industry. First, security solutions must increasingly operate at the same speed and scale as the threats they combat. Second, the integration of artificial intelligence into defensive systems is transitioning from competitive advantage to operational necessity. Third, venture capital continues to flow toward startups addressing fundamental shifts in the threat landscape.
Organizations face mounting challenges as their attack surfaces expand through cloud adoption, remote work, and software supply chain complexity. Traditional security tools often struggle with these dynamic environments. Consequently, AI-native platforms like depthfirst’s General Security Intelligence offer potential solutions through continuous, automated analysis that adapts to evolving threats without constant manual intervention.
Comparative Analysis of AI Security Approaches
Several distinct approaches have emerged in the AI security sector. Some companies focus primarily on threat detection, while others emphasize automated response. Depthfirst distinguishes itself through its comprehensive platform that addresses multiple vulnerability vectors simultaneously. Key differentiators include:
- •Codebase Analysis: Automated scanning for vulnerabilities during development
- •Credential Protection: Monitoring for exposed authentication materials
- •Supply Chain Security: Continuous assessment of third-party components
- •Workflow Integration: Security embedded throughout development processes
This holistic approach recognizes that modern enterprises require integrated security solutions rather than point products that address isolated concerns.
Conclusion
Depthfirst’s $40 million Series A funding represents a significant milestone in the evolution of AI-powered cybersecurity defense. As artificial intelligence transforms both offensive and defensive capabilities in the digital security domain, startups with strong technical foundations and clear market vision are attracting substantial investment. The company’s General Security Intelligence platform addresses critical vulnerabilities in modern software development and deployment environments. With experienced leadership and strategic capital allocation, depthfirst is positioned to play an important role in helping organizations defend against increasingly sophisticated AI-powered cyber threats that continue to evolve at accelerating pace.
FAQs
Q1: What is depthfirst’s primary security platform?
Depthfirst offers General Security Intelligence, an AI-native suite that helps companies scan and analyze codebases, protect against credential exposures, and monitor threats to open-source components.
Q2: Who led depthfirst’s $40 million Series A funding round?
Accel Partners led the investment round, with participation from SV Angel, Mantis VC, and Alt Capital.
Q3: What experience does depthfirst’s leadership team have?
CEO Qasim Mithani previously worked at Databricks and Amazon, co-founder Daniele Perito was director of security at Square, and CTO Andrea Michi was an engineer at Google DeepMind.
Q4: How will depthfirst use the new funding?
The company plans to hire additional staff for applied research, engineering, product development, and sales to enhance its platform and accelerate market adoption.
Q5: What companies are already using depthfirst’s platform?
Depthfirst has developed partnerships with several prominent companies including AngelList, Lovable, and Moveworks as early adopters of its security solutions.