Seattle-based startup Certiv has officially launched from stealth, securing $4.2 million in pre-seed funding to address the security challenges of autonomous AI agents. The company is pioneering a new category called "Runtime Assurance for AI Agents" to govern their actions on employee devices. This funding will accelerate engineering development and support initial deployments with enterprise clients.
Addressing a New Generation of Security Risks
The proliferation of AI agents like Claude Code and GitHub Copilot Workspace introduces a new attack surface within enterprises. These autonomous tools can execute code, read files, and access sensitive systems using employee credentials, creating significant operational risks. Traditional security solutions are ill-equipped to monitor these non-deterministic systems, leaving a major blind spot for organizations.
A Novel Endpoint-First Approach
Certiv's platform provides a new security layer by installing directly onto employee workstations running Windows, Mac, or Linux. From this vantage point, it acts as a gatekeeper, intercepting and observing agent actions at their source. This allows the system to govern behavior before it can reach and potentially harm production environments.
This endpoint-first strategy provides unparalleled visibility into local agent activity, including tool calls and data access that network proxies cannot see. By analyzing the full chain of reasoning, Certiv can understand an agent's intent rather than just its individual actions. This contextual awareness enables more precise and effective policy enforcement in real time.
Leadership and Investor Confidence
The company is led by a team with deep expertise, including CEO Jason Needham, CTO Paul Allen, and Chief AI Officer Daniel Morris. Their collective background in security, AI, and infrastructure provides a strong foundation for tackling this complex problem. The Seattle-headquartered startup currently consists of nine employees and is poised for growth.
The $4.2 million pre-seed round was led by notable investors including Aviso Ventures, Founders Co-op, and Fortson. Andrew Peterson of Aviso Ventures emphasized that enterprises need new controls to govern these autonomous systems. This investment signals strong confidence in Certiv's vision to secure AI agents from the ground up.
Market Context and Future Outlook
Certiv enters a dynamic and competitive market focused on AI governance, where other prominent figures are also launching new ventures. The company differentiates itself by focusing specifically on intercepting agent behavior on the endpoint computer or device. This niche approach provides a unique level of control that other solutions may lack.
With the new capital, Certiv plans to expand its engineering team and scale its early enterprise deployments. The company is already running multiple pilot programs, demonstrating early market validation for its runtime assurance platform. This initial traction is a promising indicator of future adoption and success in the enterprise sector.
As enterprises increasingly adopt autonomous AI agents, Certiv's launch marks a significant step toward ensuring their safe and secure integration. By providing granular control and visibility directly at the endpoint, the company offers a purpose-built solution for a new era of software. This innovative approach positions Certiv to become an essential component of the modern enterprise security stack.