Helmet Security Funding Marks Critical Milestone in Autonomous AI Cybersecurity Protection
The global agentic AI in cybersecurity market reached $738.2 million in 2024 and is projected to grow at a robust CAGR of 39.70% through 2034. This explosive growth creates the perfect backdrop for understanding why Helmet Security’s emergence from stealth mode with $9 million in funding from SYN Ventures and WhiteRabbit Ventures represents more than just another startup launch—it signals a fundamental shift in how enterprises will protect their AI infrastructure.
The Washington D.C.-based company addresses what many security experts consider the most pressing challenge facing enterprises today: securing the rapidly proliferating connections between AI agents and enterprise systems. Over 17,000 MCP servers have been deployed since the Model Context Protocol’s launch in November 2024, yet most of these connections remain unmonitored, leaving enterprises exposed to risks that traditional security tools cannot see.
The Founders Behind the Innovation
Helmet Security was co-founded by Fred Kneip (the founder of CyberGRX, which raised $100 million and was acquired by Marlin Equity Partners / ProcessUnity) and Kaushik Shanadi. Kneip serves as Helmet’s CEO and Shanadi as CTO, bringing together decades of cybersecurity experience and technical expertise.
Kneip’s background is particularly impressive. Prior to joining the company, Fred served in several senior management roles at Bridgewater Associates, including Head of Compliance and Head of Security. Before that, Fred was an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Co., where he led the company’s Corporate Finance practice. This combination of financial acumen and security expertise proves invaluable when building enterprise-grade solutions.
Meanwhile, Shanadi is described as an experienced security architect and engineering leader, with Helmet protecting innovation without slowing it down by integrating seamlessly with existing EDR tools and API connections in an enterprise’s stack for discovery and blocking.
Understanding the Market Opportunity
The timing couldn’t be better for Helmet Security funding to accelerate growth. The cybersecurity agentic AI market size stood at $1.83 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach $7.84 billion by 2030, reflecting a 33.83% CAGR during 2025-2030. What makes this growth particularly compelling is the underlying shift happening in enterprise AI adoption.
Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to autonomous systems capable of making decisions and executing tasks without human intervention. In cybersecurity, agentic AI functions as an independent sentinel, continuously monitoring networks, analyzing data, and proactively safeguarding systems. Unlike traditional security measures that rely on predefined rules and manual oversight, agentic AI adapts to emerging threats in real time, learning from its environment to enhance its defensive strategies.
However, this technological advancement creates new vulnerabilities that traditional security tools simply cannot address. ISC2 reports 4.8 million unfilled cyber roles worldwide and notes that 90% of organisations still face skills gaps. Security operations centres grapple with 11,000 daily alerts and miss two-thirds of true positives due to fatigue.
The Model Context Protocol Challenge
At the heart of Helmet Security’s solution lies the Model Context Protocol (MCP). MCP is a popular protocol that allows AI agents to securely connect to, interact with and exchange data with enterprise software systems, applications and services in real time. That stands for Model Context Protocol, an open source framework developed by Anthropic. In enterprises, MCPs can help LLMs access other company software so AI tools can act more like employees — doing things like sending emails and synthesizing data.
The problem emerges when you consider the scale and complexity involved. But AI agents are new on the scene, and deployment can accidentally give them more permissions than intended, opening the window for external hackers to manipulate the tools to expose sensitive information or send nefarious messages.
This is where Helmet Security funding enables the company to solve a critical gap in the market. “There are a lot of technology products out there, but no-one is addressing the business security problem of MCP, until now,” said Kneip. “Helmet helps CISOs understand what servers are already in their environment, what information they are sharing, and who is using them. It then allows for simple policy enforcement to reduce the attack surface.”
Platform Capabilities and Technical Architecture
Helmet’s comprehensive approach sets it apart from point solutions currently available. Helmet’s platform can discover and map all MCP-based infrastructure inside an enterprise, including existing MCP servers and any new ones that emerge. Once a server or communication channel is detected, Helmet brings it under management so nothing slips through unnoticed.
The platform operates across three core functions:
Discovery: Automatic scanning to identify MCP servers and migrate them into a managed state. This continuous monitoring ensures that new AI agents don’t slip through security gaps.
Monitoring: Continuous observation and logging of traffic across all MCP connections. Real-time visibility enables security teams to understand exactly how AI agents communicate and what data they access.
Management: Structured access policies with the ability to identify and block out-of-policy or noncompliant connections. This provides CISOs with the control they need without hampering developer productivity.
Every time a new server or communication path appears, Helmet Security detects it, brings it under control, and empowers CISOs to enforce policy instantly—no matter how quickly developers innovate.
Addressing the Developer-Security Balance
One of the most challenging aspects of AI security involves maintaining developer velocity while ensuring robust protection. “Security and productivity are often at odds, and AI agents are no exception,” said Shanadi. “By covering the full MCP lifecycle today and preparing to secure the emerging A2A methods for tomorrow, we help developers maintain speed while giving CISOs real guardrails”.
This philosophy aligns perfectly with current enterprise needs. “If I make this hard, no one’s going to adopt it. We have to make this easy,” Kneip said. “You have to make it easy for the developers, the people who are building these agents.”
The company’s approach reflects a deep understanding of organizational dynamics. His ultimate goal? To give these agents the least amount of privileges to still be able to do the job, therein giving engineers more flexibility to innovate and deploy new AI capabilities at their companies.
Market Validation and Early Traction
Early market response validates the need for Helmet’s solution. “Helmet Security is batting one thousand on early prospect conversions because the platform delivers the Wiz proposition of instant value and applies it to AI-to-AI communications. Helmet gives enterprises an immediate, installation-free view into where and how MCP is operating across their environments, plus the ability to act on rogue connections”.
Helmet Security, built in collaboration with several Fortune 500 CISOs, was created to solve this problem outright: continuously discovering, monitoring, and enforcing controls on MCP servers today while building an adaptive foundation to secure all forms of agentic connectivity as they evolve.
The collaborative approach with Fortune 500 CISOs ensures that Helmet’s solution addresses real-world enterprise requirements rather than theoretical security concepts.
Competitive Landscape and Differentiation
Kneip acknowledged the market is saturated with tools aimed at cybersecurity in AI systems, but said most focus on one aspect of the process, like identifying where permissions are too lenient or adding guardrails for specific use cases. The difference with Helmet Security, he said, is that it’s a comprehensive tool. It offers continuous monitoring of agentic AI systems and will update rules and protocols on an as-needed basis as technologies evolve.
This comprehensive approach becomes increasingly valuable as organizations realize the limitations of point solutions. In 2025, security vendor consolidation will accelerate in earnest. The operational inefficiencies that come with a fragmented security stack are hurting under-resourced security teams. Consolidating vendors reduces complexity and improves risk posture overall.
Investment Strategy and Growth Plans
The strategic use of Helmet Security funding demonstrates the company’s lean operational approach. The funds will be used for R&D, Kneip said, and to expand the team from 3 to 10 employees, with a focus on engineering and customer management roles.
Helmet Security has been able to stay lean because of using AI tools in building its software and other operations, he said, noting that cofounder and CTO Kaushik Shanadi was able to build the product in a couple of months. This approach reflects the modern startup philosophy of using AI to accelerate development and operations.
The two VC firms, known for investing in early-stage cybersecurity companies, are providing Helmet with more than just capital, he said. They’ve helped the startup with AI and cybersecurity expertise, and have connected the firm with potential customers.
Industry Trends Driving Adoption
Several macro trends support the growth potential for autonomous cybersecurity agents:
Talent Shortage: 86% of cybersecurity professionals anticipate AI-driven threats to surge next year; 65% report no internal policy for supplier-inflicted AI risk. This skills gap makes autonomous solutions increasingly attractive.
Alert Fatigue: Enterprises already running autonomous agents cite 40% shorter detection windows and 60% fewer false positives, validating the ROI that propels the agentic AI in cybersecurity market.
Cloud Complexity: Each new cloud service introduces 14 potential vulnerability vectors, expanding risk faster than perimeter tools can adapt.
Regulatory Pressure: Regulatory developments such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), various state-level AI governance bills, and federal initiatives on AI risk management are pushing organizations to adopt more robust, compliant AI security measures. These regulations, combined with the rising frequency and complexity of cyberattacks in sectors like BFSI, healthcare, and government, are making security investments a strategic priority.
Future Outlook and Market Position
The Helmet Security funding positions the company well for the evolving cybersecurity landscape. In 2025 and beyond, AI Agents are becoming a valuable part of cybersecurity teams – but only if capable of delivering end-to-end outcomes while maintaining the precision required in compliance operations.
The emerging agentic AI market shows endless potential, especially for organizations that use the cloud to scale computing power and storage capacity to train and deploy complex AI models.
Looking ahead, the company’s focus on MCP security creates a strong foundation for expansion. As enterprises accelerate their adoption of agentic AI, the connections that power these systems are multiplying, ensuring continued demand for Helmet’s comprehensive platform.
Strategic Implications for Enterprise Security
For CISOs and security leaders, Helmet’s approach represents a shift from reactive to proactive AI security. Increased CISO involvement in AI safety and security—CISOs will own AI safety and security strategies in 2025. With the widespread adoption of AI systems, CISOs will be expected to defend and secure this new attack surface. CISOs must ensure that AI models are mapped out and mitigated properly.
The platform’s ability to provide visibility into AI agent communications while maintaining developer productivity addresses the fundamental challenge facing modern enterprises: how to embrace AI innovation while maintaining security posture.
Conclusion
Helmet Security funding represents more than just a successful seed round—it signals the maturation of autonomous cybersecurity solutions for AI infrastructure. With the agentic AI cybersecurity market poised for explosive growth and enterprises struggling to secure increasingly complex AI deployments, Helmet’s comprehensive MCP security platform addresses a critical market need.
The company’s experienced leadership team, strategic investor backing, and early customer validation position it well to capitalize on the growing demand for AI infrastructure security. As organizations continue to deploy autonomous AI agents, the need for specialized security solutions like Helmet’s will only intensify, making this funding round a strategic milestone in the evolution of AI-native cybersecurity.
For enterprises evaluating AI security solutions, Helmet’s approach offers a compelling value proposition: comprehensive protection for AI agent communications without sacrificing developer productivity. This balance between security and innovation may well define the next generation of cybersecurity solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Helmet Security and why is their funding significant?
Helmet Security is a cybersecurity startup that raised $9 million to build autonomous agents protecting AI infrastructure, specifically focusing on Model Context Protocol (MCP) security as enterprises rapidly adopt agentic AI systems.
Who founded Helmet Security and what is their background?
Helmet Security was co-founded by CEO Fred Kneip (founder of CyberGRX, which raised $100M) and CTO Kaushik Shanadi. Kneip previously held senior roles at Bridgewater Associates and McKinsey & Co.
What problem does Helmet Security solve for enterprises?
Helmet solves the critical challenge of securing AI agent communications through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), providing continuous discovery, monitoring, and policy enforcement for over 17,000 deployed MCP servers that traditional security tools cannot protect.
How big is the agentic AI cybersecurity market?
The agentic AI in cybersecurity market reached $738.2 million in 2024 and is projected to grow at 39.70% CAGR through 2034, driven by increasing AI adoption and critical cybersecurity talent shortages.
What makes Helmet Security different from other AI security solutions?
Unlike point solutions focusing on specific aspects, Helmet provides comprehensive end-to-end MCP security with automatic discovery, real-time monitoring, and policy enforcement while maintaining developer productivity and integrating seamlessly with existing enterprise tools.
What are the key features of Helmet’s security platform?
Helmet’s platform offers three core capabilities: automatic MCP server discovery and mapping, continuous traffic monitoring and logging, and structured access policies with instant policy enforcement for non-compliant connections.
How will Helmet Security use their $9 million funding?
The funding will be used for R&D development and expanding their team from 3 to 10 employees, focusing primarily on engineering roles and customer management positions to scale their autonomous AI security platform.
