Sep 10, 2025

OpenAI Startup Fund backs Adaptive Security with $55m Series A funding round Published: 10-09-2025 11:18:00 | By: Pie Kamau | hits: 8 | Tags: Adaptive Security, an AI social engineering prevention startup, has secured additional backing from OpenAI Startup Fund, extending its Series A financing to a total of $55 million. The cybersecurity company remains the only firm in its sector supported by the fund, underscoring investor confidence in its focus on human-centered defense against AI-driven social engineering threats. Brian Long , Co-founder and CEO, Adaptive Security: "Cybersecurity now begins with people, not just infrastructure. As AI becomes invisible infrastructure – embedded in how we shop, work, write, and think – it also enables deceptive attacks. Without upgrading how we train and protect individuals, we risk heading into a world where trust itself becomes our greatest vulnerability." The growing use of AI in malicious activity has already shown real-world consequences. In June, U.S. officials, including foreign ministers, a governor and a member of Congress, received AI-generated messages impersonating Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a State Department advisory. That same month, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warned during a Federal Reserve event that AI-driven impersonation could trigger a "fraud crisis," which he described as imminent. Companies remain prime targets, with deepfake job scams on the rise, but individuals are increasingly vulnerable. A fabricated video on X falsely promoted a Ripple cryptocurrency giveaway, prompting the company’s CTO to issue a scam warning. In Michigan, the FBI reported that AI-driven voice cloning and fake video schemes cost residents more than 240 million dollars in 2024. Adaptive Security’s platform is designed to help organizations prepare for these evolving threats. It provides phishing simulations across voice, video, and messaging channels, personalized training based on individual risk profiles, real-time detection support, and AI-driven scoring to highlight where defenses are most urgently needed. Ian Hathaway , Partner, OpenAI Startup Fund: "Adaptive is moving with incredible product speed to build AI-native defenses for equally advanced threats. Their platform delivers exactly what modern security teams need — realistic deepfake simulations, AI-powered risk scoring, and training that resonates. We're proud to back a team that's reshaping how institutions stay resilient in the age of AI." With continued investment, Adaptive Security is positioning itself at the forefront of defense strategies designed to counter AI-enabled fraud. Would you like to be featured on Startup Weekly for a free profile interview? Fill in this questionnaire  here . 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