Runlayer, a new Model Context Protocol (MCP) security startup, has emerged from stealth mode with $11 million in seed funding from investors like Khosla Ventures’ Keith Rabois and Felicis. Founded by Andrew Berman, an experienced entrepreneur with successful ventures like Nanit and Vowel, Runlayer aims to enhance the security of AI agents used by businesses.
Since its product launch four months ago, Runlayer has attracted numerous customers, including eight unicorns such as Gusto, dbt Labs, Instacart, and Opendoor. Notably, David Soria Parra, the MCP lead creator, has joined as an angel investor and advisor.
The MCP protocol, introduced by Parra’s team at Anthropic, has become a standard for enabling AI agents to interact with data and systems autonomously. Despite its widespread adoption, security vulnerabilities have been identified in various MCP implementations.
CEO Andrew Berman emphasized the importance of robust tools and resources for effective AI utilization, highlighting the critical role of secure AI agent operation.
Source: TechCrunch