Sources Anduril Industries Julyinformation – Anduril Industries is a new startup founded by former Google and Facebook executives. The company has raised $7B in pre-money valuation for its defense technology business.
The company is building an AI-powered security system that can protect from cyber and physical attacks, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Anduril’s plan is to offer clients tailored security packages using an online marketplace, according to one of the sources.
Anduril’s roster includes Google’s former director of security and privacy engineering, Margo Seltzer, as well as Facebook’s former vice president of infrastructure security, Ari Teman. Anduril is currently building a computer vision system that’ll help monitor the status of everything from smart locks to automated doors to vending machines.
The company has also hired Christopher Darby — a former security product manager at Facebook — to build out its products for enterprise customers. It’s also planning to hire former Google execs Erik Moore and Todd Kulsaver.
Anduril is expected to name a new chief financial officer in the coming days. A company spokesperson declined to comment.
Sources told TechCrunch that Anduril had raised $7B in a Series A round from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Alphabet’s Access, GE Ventures, Blackstone and others.
Google and Facebook have made a number of investments to support the creation of new AI startups. Anduril is one of these startups, and it’s promising to do something that Google has been working on for a while — a security startup that can combine insights from machine learning with physical security.
It’s not clear where exactly Anduril’s tech will be used first — but two sources said the company will start off by providing physical security for data centers. These sources said the company will use its AI system to protect against malicious software and physical attacks. Once it’s proven that AI can stop cyberattacks, Anduril will then open up its platform to other physical security companies.
It’s not clear yet whether other tech companies might partner with Anduril. Kleiner is paying $1.2 billion for the company and will invest another $2 billion, according to one source.
Anduril’s confirmation comes at a time of high demand for cybersecurity startups. Companies like Lookout, Cysec and Palantir have all raised billions in funding, with many more getting in on the game.
Anduril is likely looking to cash in on the lack of choice in security, as publicly-traded startups like DigiCert and Cambridge Security Partners have begun to build their own security-focused AI products.
Anduril’s plan is to use its AI platform to create a marketplace for cybersecurity companies — turning traditional security companies into moveable research and maintaining services with very short contracts.
Companies like IBM and Amazon have begun to offer more tailored security solutions, but that hasn’t yet translated into better services for individual companies.