HiddenLayer vs Protect AI

HiddenLayer is an Austin, Texas-based AI security company founded in March 2022 by experienced cybersecurity and machine learning professionals. The company provides a comprehensive AI Security Platform covering AI Discovery (automated inventory), AI Supply Chain Security (model scanning for embedded threats), AI Attack Simulation (red teaming), and AI Runtime Security (guardrails and active threat response). The platform is designed to be non-invasive — protecting models without requiring access to raw training data — and integrates with CI/CD, MLOps, data pipelines, and SIEM/SOAR tools. HiddenLayer is recognized by Gartner as a Cool Vendor for AI Application Security. The company raised $50M in Series A in September 2023, the largest Series A for an AI-focused cybersecurity company at that time, led by M12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund) and Moore Strategic Ventures. Customers include enterprises in financial services, US federal government, and technology. Named endorsers include the CISO of the NFL and the former CISO of AIG.

Protect AI was a Seattle-based MLSecOps company founded in 2022 by Ian Swanson, Daryan Dehghanpisheh, and Badar Ahmed that built a comprehensive AI and ML security platform. The platform comprised three main products — Guardian (model scanning and supply-chain security), Recon (AI red teaming), and Layer (runtime monitoring) — operating on a unified platform. The company was backed by 17,000+ security researchers via its huntr community and partnered with Hugging Face on threat research. Protect AI was acquired by Palo Alto Networks on July 22, 2025 and its technology has been integrated into Prisma AIRS (AI Runtime Security), Palo Alto's comprehensive AI security platform. Prior to acquisition the company had raised $108.5M total ($14M seed in December 2022, $35M Series A in July 2023, $60M Series B in August 2024), all led by Evolution Equity Partners.