As artificial intelligence agents increasingly integrate into corporate environments, the need for robust identity management systems tailored to these digital entities has become paramount. Addressing this emerging challenge, cybersecurity startup NewCore has emerged from stealth mode, announcing a substantial $66 million in funding. This investment, led by Cyberstarts with participation from Index Ventures and Evolution Equity Partners, values the company at $300 million post-investment.
Organizations are progressively treating AI agents not merely as tools but as integral members of their workforce. For instance, Goldman Sachs recently evaluated an AI coding agent named Devin as a potential employee, and McKinsey reported that 25,000 AI agents are currently collaborating alongside its 60,000 human employees. This trend underscores the necessity for systems capable of authenticating, governing, and controlling AI agents at scale.
NewCore’s platform is designed to manage both human and AI-agent identities within a unified system. Unlike traditional service accounts or machine credentials, NewCore advocates for treating AI agents as first-class identities, complete with their own permissions, lifecycle controls, and revocation mechanisms. This approach ensures that AI agents are managed with the same rigor and oversight as human employees.
The inception of NewCore was influenced by co-founder and CEO Zohar Alon’s experiences in the cybersecurity domain. Alon, who previously founded cloud-security startup Dome9 (later acquired by Check Point), recognized that existing identity platforms were ill-equipped to handle the complexities introduced by AI agents. He observed that the scale and intricacy of managing AI agents would overwhelm traditional identity systems, many of which are based on architectures developed over a decade ago.
Joining Alon in this venture are CTO Amihai Neiderman, a former Unit 8200 research leader and founder of healthcare AI startup Nym Health, and CRO Erez Yarkoni, who has held CIO positions at T-Mobile USA and Telstra. Together, they bring a wealth of experience in cybersecurity, AI, and enterprise operations.
NewCore’s emergence highlights a critical evolution in the cybersecurity landscape. As AI agents become more prevalent in the workplace, the demand for specialized identity management solutions will intensify. Companies must proactively adopt systems like NewCore’s to ensure secure and efficient integration of AI agents into their operations. This development signifies a broader shift towards recognizing and addressing the unique security challenges posed by the growing presence of AI in the corporate world.
