Hakimo Secures $10.5M for AI-Powered Autonomous Security Agent

The watchful AI that never sleeps: Hakimo's $10.5M bet on autonomous security

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More Hakimo announced today it has secured $10.5 million in Series A funding to expand its autonomous security monitoring platform. The Menlo Park-based AI security startup's round was led by Vertex Ventures and Zigg Capital, with participation from RXR Arden Digital Ventures and existing investors Defy.vc and Gokul Rajaram, bringing the company's total funding to $20.5 million. The company's flagship product, AI Operator -- an autonomous security agent that monitors existing security systems, detects threats in real-time, and executes response protocols with minimal human intervention -- arrives as the physical security industry struggles with staffing shortages, rising costs, and false alarm fatigue. "Rising costs and the severe shortage of quality security guards are driving this shift," explained Sam Joseph, Hakimo's co-founder and CEO, in an exclusive interview with VentureBeat. "Companies save approximately $125,000 per year relative to a guard, so switching to Hakimo is a no-brainer to customers." AI security agents that detect any threat describable in words Unlike conventional security monitoring services, Hakimo combines computer vision with generative AI to create a system that can detect any anomaly or threat that can be described in words. "Hakimo's AI Operator continuously ingests live video feeds from existing security cameras and other sensors such as alarm systems and door sensors," Joseph said. "Our AI Operator is trained to identify anomalies and threats -- such as unauthorized personnel, tailgating, loitering, intrusion into restricted zones, or unusual behaviors." When the system detects a potential threat, it reasons through pre-programmed response protocols, issues real-time audio warnings through on-site speakers, and escalates to human operators only when necessary. This multi-layered approach allows for comprehensive security coverage at a fraction of the cost of traditional guard services. The system's ability to work with existing hardware serves as another differentiator. "Companies can deploy Hakimo in just minutes, directly integrating with their existing cameras and hardware -- no new infrastructure required," Joseph explained. How 24/7 AI monitoring outperforms traditional security guards Hakimo's growth addresses significant challenges facing traditional security approaches, including police departments declining to respond to unverified alarms and a labor crisis in the manned guarding industry. "A guard physically cannot be at all places at all times, especially at places like campuses and large warehouses or even car dealerships," Joseph said. "Hakimo, on the other hand, monitors cameras giving complete 100% coverage as long as there are enough cameras present at the site." The CEO highlighted additional advantages: "Guards have to take mandatory breaks during their shifts whereas Hakimo's AI Operator never takes breaks. Liability risk: Guards have a high risk of getting injured on the job, which causes a huge liability risk. Hakimo, with no on-site human presence, has no such risk whatsoever." The company has tripled its customer base over the past year, now serving more than 100 clients across industries including multifamily apartments, car dealerships, construction sites, and Fortune 500 enterprises. In 2024 alone, Hakimo's technology prevented thousands of security incidents, assisted law enforcement in multiple arrests, and even saved a life. "Our AI Operator detected a person collapsing on-site in the middle of the night with no one around. It was then escalated to our human operators who immediately dispatched emergency services (911), ultimately saving the individual's life," Joseph explained. Why investors are betting millions on AI-powered physical security The investment in Hakimo reflects growing recognition that physical security requires technological reinvention as traditional approaches like guard services and alarm monitoring increasingly appear antiquated and cost-prohibitive. With the new funding, Joseph plans to "expand and enhance our AI platform capabilities and scale operations to new markets and industries." The company targets businesses across multiple sectors that need efficient physical security solutions. "Any business needing protection for physical assets or people benefits significantly, especially property management, car dealerships, construction sites, and campuses," Joseph said, citing examples including a car dealership that eliminated monthly break-ins, a high-rise apartment building that saved nearly a million dollars on security guard spending, and a student housing property that saw incidents drop by 90% while reducing security costs to a third of traditional expenses. Creating the universal platform for intelligent video monitoring Hakimo was founded in early 2020 by Sam Joseph and Sagar Honnungar, both Stanford-trained AI experts with backgrounds in enterprise SaaS. They identified converging trends: exploding camera deployments, falling hardware costs, and rapid advances in computer vision. Their vision extends beyond current applications: "In five years, Hakimo aims to become the universal platform for intelligent video monitoring and understanding, effectively creating and leading a new category within the physical security industry," Joseph said. As AI continues to advance, Hakimo's approach may offer a preview of how intelligent systems will increasingly augment -- and in some cases replace -- human workers in security and beyond. "Our vision is that Hakimo will be the platform for all kinds of video monitoring," Joseph said. "Anyone should be able to connect any camera to Hakimo and say 'look out for X and do Y when you see X happening.'"

Hakimo secures $10.5M in new funding and launches autonomous AI security agent - SiliconANGLE

Hakimo secures $10.5M in new funding and launches autonomous AI security agent Artificial intelligence-powered physical security company Hakimo Inc. announced today that it had raised $10.5 million in new funding and launched AI Operator, an autonomous security agent that monitors existing security hardware, detects threats in real time and executes response protocols just like a human security professional. Founded in 2020 by Stanford-trained AI experts Sam Joseph and Sagar Honnungar, Hamimo builds AI agents for physical security monitoring. The company services include AI-driven, human-in-the-loop security software solutions that work with existing security hardware to enhance real-time threat detection, optimize resources and proactively deter security breaches. The new AI Operator service takes the company's vision further through a combination of computer vision and generative AI that monitors existing security hardware, such as cameras and badge readers. Differing from other solutions on the market, the service can detect any anomaly or potential threat that can be described in words. In addition to detection, AI Operator can also issue real-time speaker warnings and execute standard operating procedures to respond to incidents, with human operators providing intervention only when necessary. "Hakimo has pioneered a new era of AI-driven security by creating an intelligent AI agent that understands and responds to threats like never before," explains Sam Joseph, co-founder and chief executive officer of Hakimo. "We're not just automating security -- we're redefining it with AI that can recognize and act on any security event and deliver unmatched protection for businesses worldwide." On the funding side, the venture capital round was led by Vertex Ventures Management Pte. Ltd. and Zigg Capital, with participation from RXR Arden Digital Ventures and existing investors Defy Ventures and Gokul Rajaram. The funding will be used to scale Hakimo's AI-powered physical security platform and expand its team to meet growing demand. Hakimo has seen strong demand for its services, with the company tripling its customer base over the last year to over 100 clients across industries, including multifamily apartments, car dealerships, construction sites and Fortune 500 enterprises. Through 2024, Hakimo's technology is said by the company to have prevented thousands of security incidents, assisted law enforcement in multiple arrests and even saved a life. Including the new funding, Hakimo has raised $20.5 million to date. Previous investors include Neotribe Ventures Management and Rocketship.vc.

Hakimo secures $10.5M to advance AI-driven physical security | bobsguide

In a move to redefine physical security, AI startup Hakimo has secured $10.5 million in funding to launch its AI Operator, an autonomous security agent. This development addresses the growing challenges faced by traditional security systems, including rising crime rates, staffing shortages, and the burden of false alarms. Hakimo, a company specializing in AI within the physical security sector, has announced a $10.5 million funding round alongside the launch of its AI Operator, an autonomous security agent. This development signals a push to transform traditional physical security systems by addressing their inherent limitations with AI-powered solutions. The impetus behind Hakimo's innovation lies in tackling the growing inadequacies of conventional security systems. Organizations face a confluence of challenges, including rising crime rates, difficulties in securing adequate security staffing, and the persistent problem of false alarms. These issues not only strain resources but also compromise the effectiveness of security operations. Hakimo's AI Operator is presented as a solution to these challenges, offering real-time threat detection to minimize the need for direct human intervention and to enhance overall security efficiency. Hakimo's approach involves a fundamental shift in how security systems operate. The company leverages AI to monitor existing security infrastructure, such as cameras, with the goal of detecting anomalies and initiating response protocols. This system is designed around an AI-human collaboration model. With the intention to provide a robust and scalable security solution that surpasses the capabilities of traditional methods. The Series A funding round was led by Vertex Ventures and Zigg Capital, with participation from RXR Arden Digital Ventures and existing investors Defy.vc and Gokul Rajaram. This funding round brings Hakimo's total funding to $20.5 million, including prior rounds led by Neotribe Ventures and Rocketship.vc. Hakimo's AI Operator integrates computer vision and generative AI to monitor existing security hardware. A core feature of the system is its capacity to detect anomalies or potential threats based on descriptions. Enabling a more flexible and intelligent approach to security monitoring. The system is also designed to issue real-time speaker warnings and execute standard operating procedures (SOPs) to automate incident response, with human operators intervening when necessary. According to Hakimo, this AI-human collaboration offers enhanced protection at a lower cost compared to traditional security approaches. The company has demonstrated significant growth, tripling its customer base and securing clients across various sectors. Including multifamily apartments, car dealerships, construction sites, and Fortune 500 enterprises. In 2024, Hakimo's technology reportedly played a role in preventing numerous security incidents, aiding law enforcement, and even saving a life. The technology's potential impact extends beyond traditional security applications. They offer businesses a means to achieve comprehensive security while mitigating the escalating costs and reliability problems associated with conventional approaches.