Summary
AI-native cybersecurity startup Protectt.ai plans to acquire a controlling stake in AIShield, an AI security platform incubated within Bosch Global So…
Backed by Bessemer Venture Partners, Protectt.ai will acquire the stake through a deal comprising primary and secondary components. The companies have not disclosed the transaction value or timeline.
“There will be cash, a secondary component and future investments as required. The current structure is a combination of cash and ESOPs. Future investments will depend on the requirements of the business,” Protectt.ai cofounder Manish Mimani told Inc42.
Founded in 2022 by Shiv Kumar and Amit Phadke, AIShield was incubated within BGSW. It develops security solutions for machine learning models, generative AI applications and AI supply chains, helping enterprises defend against attacks designed to manipulate AI systems and address compliance risks.
The partnership will combine AIShield’s AI security capabilities with Protectt.ai’s mobile security platform, allowing the latter to expand into enterprise AI security.
AIShield will continue to operate as an independent entity under Protectt.ai once the deal is completed, with its own professional management team and a focus on AI security research and product development. It will also be able to raise external funding in the future.
Protectt.ai plans to work with private companies and government organisations through AIShield to build an India-developed AI security platform, Mimani said.
From Mobile Security To Enterprise AI
Founded in 2020 by Manish Mimani and Mohanraj Selvaraj, Protectt.ai provides mobile threat defence solutions that help businesses protect applications against cyber threats and fraud. Its platform also serves as a compliance hub for app owners, helping them adhere to regulations issued by entities such as the RBI, SEBI and NPCI.
The startup also offers a full-stack AI security platform with tools to test AI agents for vulnerabilities, secure connections between AI applications and external tools, and monitor AI agents while they operate.
Protectt.ai’s security technology runs on more than 1 Bn mobile devices and processes 15 Bn mobile application sessions every month, Mimani said.
He expects mobile applications to increasingly rely on AI agents to perform tasks, potentially reducing the need for users to navigate conventional app interfaces over the next one to two years.
Protectt.ai had already been researching AI model scanning and AI agent security as part of its product roadmap. Through the AIShield acquisition, the startup aims to extend these capabilities beyond mobile applications to enterprise use cases across sectors.
Some members of Protectt.ai’s AI security team will move to AIShield, although the number has yet to be finalised.
AIShield currently has around 12–15 employees and plans to expand its team to 50–60 people by March 2027. It plans to hire PhD researchers, master’s graduates and other technical talent from leading institutions to strengthen its research and engineering capabilities.
The team will focus on developing products, conducting research and filing patents, Mimani said.
Protectt.ai Eyes Further Acquisitions
The AIShield deal is Protectt.ai’s first such acquisition. The startup set up an M&A team earlier in 2026 to evaluate potential acquisitions and partnerships, with a focus on building capabilities and addressing gaps in its existing offerings.
Protectt.ai is exploring opportunities in areas such as API security and cloud security that could complement its current capabilities, Mimani said.
The startup secured around $16 Mn in a Series A funding round led by Bessemer Venture Partners and Bajaj Finance in 2025. Mimani added that Protectt.ai is evaluating opportunities and expects to consider raising fresh funds in 2027.
Source: Inc42 (India)
