Protectt.ai Takes Majority Stake in Bosch-Incubated AIShield to Build Full-Stack AI Security Solution

Protectt.ai Acquires AIShield in Strategic Move

Protectt.ai, a cybersecurity startup backed by Bessemer Venture Partners, has acquired a majority stake in AIShield, an AI security platform incubated within Bosch Global Software Technologies (BGSW). The deal, structured through a combination of cash, secondary share purchases, and ESOPs, will see Bosch retain a minority stake in the venture1

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. AIShield will operate as AI Shield Private Limited, a separate entity with existing intellectual property transferred to it, according to Protectt.ai founder and CEO Manish Mimani. The transaction value and completion timeline remain undisclosed.

Building a Full-Stack AI Security Platform

Founded in 2022 by Shiv Kumar and Amit Phadke, AIShield develops security solutions for machine learning models, generative AI applications, and AI supply chains. The platform helps enterprises defend against attacks designed to manipulate AI systems while addressing compliance risks2

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. This acquisition enables Protectt.ai to combine AIShield's enterprise AI security capabilities with its mobile security platform, expanding beyond its current focus on mobile threat defense. Protectt.ai's security technology currently runs on over 1 billion mobile devices and processes 15 billion mobile application sessions monthly2

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Securing Enterprise AI Systems Across Sectors

The partnership addresses a critical gap as enterprises increasingly deploy AI systems. 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 multiple sectors2

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. Mimani 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. AIShield will continue operating independently with its own professional management team, focusing on AI security research and product development while retaining the ability to raise external funding2

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Expansion Plans and Future Acquisitions

AIShield currently employs 12-15 people and plans to expand its team to 50-60 employees by March 2027. The company intends to hire PhD researchers, master's graduates, and technical talent from leading institutions to strengthen its research and engineering capabilities2

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. Some members of Protectt.ai's AI security team will transfer to AIShield, though exact numbers are yet to be finalized. This marks Protectt.ai's first acquisition since establishing an M&A team earlier in 2026 to evaluate potential deals. The startup is exploring further acquisitions and partnerships in areas such as API security and cloud security to complement its existing capabilities2

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. Protectt.ai secured around $16 million in Series A funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners and Bajaj Finance in 2025, and Mimani indicated the company expects to consider raising fresh funds in 20272

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