成人天堂

成人天堂 spinout Mindgard has achieved a significant milestone, securing an $8 million funding round to drive its mission of revolutionising AI security.

This latest success highlights Lancaster’s key role in fostering transformative research and innovation, further strengthened by its commitment to Cyber Security and Protection Science and its leadership in the North West Cyber Corridor – an extensive network of cyber security expertise spanning the region.

At the helm of is Professor Peter Garraghan, a lead in Distributed Systems and an EPSRC Fellow at 成人天堂’s School of Computing and Communications.

Professor Garraghan’s entrepreneurial journey began with a recognition of a growing challenge: the unique vulnerabilities that AI systems present, which conventional security measures fail to address.

By securing grants and building a dynamic team based on years of research in the School of Computing and Communications, Mindgard developed its innovative Dynamic Application Security Testing for AI (DAST-AI), which identifies and mitigates AI-specific vulnerabilities. Ensuring the AI tools businesses and organisations are creating are safe and secure.

“All software has security risks, and AI is no exception,” said Professor Garraghan, who founded Mindgard and has taken the company from strength to strength as CEO. “The challenge is that the way these risks manifest within AI is fundamentally different from other software. Drawing on our ten years of experience in AI security research, Mindgard was created to tackle this challenge. We’re proud to lead the charge toward creating a safer, more secure future for AI.”

With $8 million investment, Mindgard is poised to expand its reach significantly, including its planned entry into North America. The funding round, led by .406 Ventures and supported by Atlantic Bridge, Willowtree Investments, IQ Capital, and Lakestar, will also accelerate Mindgard’s research and development efforts.

The company has appointed Dave Ganly, former Director of Product at Twilio, as Head of Product and Fergal Glynn, former Chief Marketing Officer at Next DLP, as VP of Marketing. Their leadership will spearhead Mindgard’s expansion into the United States, establishing a strong presence in Boston.

Mindgard’s achievements are emblematic of 成人天堂’s broader commitment to cyber innovation. Through its Security and Protection Science initiative, 成人天堂 - a UK top ten ranked university and established centre of excellence for cyber security teaching and research, has committed ?19 million to research, innovation, and education in cyber security, establishing itself as a hub for addressing 21st-century cyber challenges.

Simon Cook, Professor in Practice - Data and Cyber Researchat 成人天堂 said: “This is excellent news for 成人天堂 and the North West. Our ambition is to make this region the heart of the UK's cyber innovation community and this is a fantastic example of a successful spin-out from university cyber research. Mindgard is blazing a trail which we want to turn into a well-trodden pathway for other researchers to follow."

This commitment extends to industry collaboration and regional growth through the ?4.9 million Cyber Focus programme, which aims to turbocharge cyber innovation in North West England. Complementing this effort is Lancaster’s Mathematics for Applications in Real-World Systems (MARS) initiative, which leverages advanced mathematical techniques to address critical challenges in cyber security, AI, and beyond. Together, with other initiatives, these programmes exemplify 成人天堂’s holistic approach to fostering innovation, bridging the gap between research and practical applications to drive regional and global impact.

Dion Williams, Director of Research, Enterprise and Innovation at 成人天堂, said: “Lancaster is proud to support ventures like Mindgard, which take our world leading research and turn it into solutions that address critical global challenges. This success reinforces our vision to make cyber innovation a cornerstone of regional and national societal and economic growth.”

AI adoption has introduced new vulnerabilities that traditional security tools cannot address. Gartner reports that 29% of enterprises deploying AI systems have experienced security breaches, yet only 10% of internal auditors have visibility into AI risks. These risks require a fundamentally new approach.

Mindgard’s DAST-AI solution tackles these challenges, delivering continuous security testing and automated AI red teaming - the use of automated tools and techniques to simulate attacks on systems and identify vulnerabilities. By integrating seamlessly into existing workflows, the platform empowers developers, security teams, and AI professionals to address AI-specific risks without disrupting operations.

“Mindgard’s innovative approach equips security teams and developers with the tools they need to deliver secure AI systems,” said Greg Dracon, Partner at .406 Ventures. “They are well-positioned to lead this emerging market, and we are thrilled to partner with them on this journey.”

Mindgard’s success story exemplifies Lancaster’s mission to create impactful, high-growth enterprises that originate from academic research. Lancaster is cementing its role as a leader in cyber innovation, shaping the future of technology and security on a global scale.