As crime rates surge, security staffing shortages grow, and false alarms burden traditional security systems, companies are turning to smarter, more cost-effective solutions. Hakimo, a leader in AI-powered physical security, has just announced a $10.5 million Series A funding round and the launch of its innovative AI Operator. This breakthrough autonomous security agent enhances threat detection and response capabilities by monitoring existing security hardware, such as cameras and badge readers, and acting like a human security professional. With AI at the helm, businesses can now enjoy superior security while dramatically reducing costs.
AI Operator: A New Era of Autonomous Security
Hakimo’s AI Operator harnesses the power of computer vision and generative AI to monitor and optimize security hardware. Unlike conventional systems, it can detect any potential threat or anomaly based on textual descriptions, offering a transformative approach to security monitoring. Once a threat is detected, the AI Operator immediately issues real-time warnings through speakers and executes predefined standard operating procedures (SOPs). This minimizes the need for human intervention, with operators only stepping in when necessary. The result is a more efficient, cost-effective, and reliable security system.
Sam Joseph, Co-Founder & CEO of Hakimo, said, “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. 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.”
Transforming Physical Security
Founded in 2020 by Sam Joseph and Sagar Honnungar, both Stanford-trained AI experts, Hakimo recognized the intersection of several key trends—rapid camera deployment, lower hardware costs, and advancements in computer vision—which presented an opportunity to transform physical security. By integrating AI into security systems, Hakimo is able to offer a flexible, scalable solution that addresses the industry’s biggest challenges, such as staffing shortages and false alarms.
The platform also provides AI-human collaboration, where the AI operates autonomously to handle routine tasks while humans step in for complex decision-making. This dynamic combination ensures businesses receive the efficiency of AI alongside the human oversight required for nuanced security decisions.
Hakimo’s Rapid Growth and Impact
Hakimo’s technology has had an immediate and profound impact. Over the past year, the company tripled its customer base, expanding to over 100 clients in industries such as multifamily apartments, car dealerships, construction sites, and Fortune 500 enterprises. Notable successes include preventing thousands of incidents and assisting law enforcement with multiple arrests. One customer, Rodrigo Duran, General Manager at Kia Santa Maria, shared: “We got a drastic reduction in trespassing right after deploying Hakimo, and I now sleep better at night with the peace-of-mind provided by Hakimo’s AI agent.”
Investment and Future Outlook
Hakimo’s latest funding round was led by Vertex Ventures and Zigg Capital, with participation from RXR Arden Digital Ventures, Defy.vc, and Gokul Rajaram. With a total of $20.5 million raised to date, Hakimo is positioned to expand its market presence and continue innovating within the physical security space.
Piyush Kharbanda, General Partner of Vertex Ventures SEA & India, commented, “We are very excited to partner with the Hakimo team, who are bringing ground-up technological innovation to the large but antiquated physical security industry. There is a dire need for innovation, and Hakimo bridges this gap with an AI + Services approach.”
Ryan Orley, Managing Partner at Zigg Capital, added: “After studying the security monitoring ecosystem, our team concluded that Hakimo’s AI + Services solution is more robust and offers better value than any other technology we have encountered.”
Hakimo is revolutionizing the physical security industry with its AI-powered solutions that enhance threat detection, improve operational efficiency, and reduce the cost of security services. The AI Operator represents a significant leap forward in autonomous security, delivering real-time monitoring and response while combining the reliability of human intervention. With growing adoption and continuous innovation, Hakimo is set to redefine how businesses approach security in an increasingly complex world.
