US-based cybersecurity firm Operant AI forays into Indian market

Operant AI, a Silicon Valley-based cybersecurity firm specialising in Artificial Intelligence (AI) application security, is launching its real-time protection platform in India and also expanding its local team.

Operant AI’s platform defends cloud environments against AI-specific threats like data exfiltration, which traditional security tools such as firewalls and static code scanning are ill-equipped to handle. The platform provides real-time attack detection and prevention, safeguarding both AI systems and sensitive data within connected cloud environments from threats like malicious prompts and unauthorised Application Programming Interface (API) access.

Operant’s CEO and co-founder, Vrajesh Bhavsar said, “Today, as AI adoption accelerates, ensuring critical security is more urgent than ever — not just to protect businesses, but also to safeguard their customers and end users from cyber threats and data breaches.” According to him, this platform actively protects sensitive data, such as IDs and financial information, through real-time threat detection and auto-redaction.

That said, Operant AI’s 3D Runtime Defense Platform protects against attacks like prompt injection, data poisoning, and data exfiltration. Its in-line auto-redaction capabilities ensure sensitive data remains within a company's environment, addressing privacy concerns in industries like BFSI and FinTech.

Founded in 2021 and backed by $13.5 million in funding from firms like Felicis and Sinewave, the India expansion marks a return for co-founders Vrajesh Bhavsar and CTO Priyanka Tembey, who honed their engineering skills in India before leading AI security initiatives at Apple, ARM, and VMWare.

Operant AI is targeting key Indian technology and financial hubs like Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Delhi-NCR, leveraging their robust ecosystems in fintech, BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance), Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and government-backed AI. The company plans significant investments in local partnerships with banks, financial institutions, and AI-driven enterprises, helping them navigate AI security frameworks and ensure data protection in a country with a strong focus on regulatory compliance.

Rising AI adoption across India’s fintech, healthcare, and enterprise software sectors has increased the need for robust security. A Deloitte study published in December indicates that 92% of Indian executives are concerned about cybersecurity threats, including AI vulnerabilities, and 91% worry about AI-related privacy risks. This further increases the need for innovative cyber-solutions.

In that front, Operant AI is actively recruiting Indian experts in AI security, cloud infrastructure, and real-time defense solutions, expanding its sales, partnerships, and customer success teams to drive enterprise adoption.

The startup also aims to support India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative by providing AI-native security solutions that enable Indian enterprises to securely scale their AI applications.