AI security company Kontext has raised $4 million in funding to expand its platform for protecting AI agents while they work. The funding round was led by 42CAP with support from a16z CSX and HTGF.
Founded by Jens Ernstberger and Michel Osswald, Kontext develops software that helps companies see and control what AI agents are doing. The founders have experience in secure computing, applied cryptography and AI systems.
Kontext is focused on security risks that appear as AI agents become more capable. Instead of only answering questions, AI agents can now write code, access files and use company accounts and systems. This means businesses need better ways to control what these agents can access and do.
Kontext’s platform works between AI agents and the tools they use. It checks their actions in real time against security rules and risk signals. The system considers factors such as the agent’s identity, the action it wants to take, the resource it is trying to access and the task it has been assigned.
“An AI agent can be properly authenticated, use an approved tool, and still take an action no one authorized. As agents move from generating text to operating software, companies need a control point at the moment of action. Kontext connects identity with task context and policy to decide what an agent is allowed to do before it happens, “said Jens Ernstberger, co-founder of Kontext.
Companies can first use Kontext in observe mode to see how their AI agents behave. This helps teams find risky activities and understand how security rules would affect agents without stopping their work.
When security enforcement is turned on, Kontext can stop unauthorised actions before they happen. The platform also keeps a record of each security decision, giving companies an audit trail they can review later.
Kontext will use the new funding to grow its engineering team and continue improving its runtime security platform. The company will also support customers that want to use AI agents with better control, security and visibility.
