Lasso Security
Israeli generative-AI security company founded in 2023; its chief executive served in Military Intelligence research, and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a Sayeret Matkal veteran, sits on its board
| Lasso Security
| |
|---|---|
| Logo |  Lasso Security logo |
| Type | Private company |
| Founded | June 2023 |
| Founder(s) | Elad Schulman, Ophir Dror, Lior Ziv and a fourth co-founder |
| Headquarters | Israel |
| Industry | Cyber security; AI security |
| Services | Security for generative-AI applications, large language models and AI agents |
| Homepage | lasso.security |
Lasso Security is an Israeli cyber-security company that sells tools for securing generative-AI applications, large language models and AI agents. It was founded in June 2023 by four co-founders, including its chief executive Elad Schulman, who "During his military service ... worked in the research division of the Military Intelligence Directorate", according to Ctech (Intelligence Corps).[1] The former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett joined its board of directors in late 2023.[1][2]
Founders and military service
Ctech reported in December 2024 that Schulman, born and raised in Petah Tikva, "During his military service ... worked in the research division of the Military Intelligence Directorate", and later worked at Mercury and OpTier before two successful exits.[1] Schulman told the paper that when the war on Gaza began in October 2023, "Ophir, one of our co-founders and the Chief Product Officer, was drafted into the reserves in an elite unit. He disappeared for four months, and after he returned, he was drafted again for another round. Our first developer was also called up for reserve duty, along with several other employees" (Ophir Dror; Israel Defense Forces). He said that the company split into "two parallel efforts: one focused on continuing product development and the other operating as a sort of auxiliary company dedicated to raising funds and transporting military equipment to soldiers".[1] The company's website lists Schulman, Dror and Lior Ziv, the chief technology officer, among its co-founders.[2]
Naftali Bennett
Lasso's website lists "Naftali Bennett, Former Prime Minister of Israel" under "Board & Advisors", describing him as a "Cyber entrepreneur, former CEO of Cyota, acquired by RSA" (Cyota; RSA Security).[2] According to Ctech, his appointment shortly after the company's first funding round was initiated by Entrée Capital, Lasso's largest investor, "to help shape the company's strategy and open doors for the young startup".[1] Duke University's news service reported in 2023 that "Before politics, Bennett was a combat soldier in Sayeret Matkal and a company commander in the Maglan Special Forces Unit, and commanded search and destroy missions during the Second Lebanon War", and that he had served as Israel's minister of defence before becoming prime minister in 2021–22 (Sayeret Matkal; Maglan; Second Lebanon War).[3] At the same event Bennett said that "the consensus in Israel today, and I'm part of it", was that a Palestinian state "doesn't work".[3]
Funding and the Cosgrave investment
Lasso came out of stealth in late November 2023 with a $6 million first funding round. Ctech reported that one of its prominent investors was Paddy Cosgrave, founder of Web Summit, who around that time accused Israel on social media of violating international law and committing war crimes; after the backlash, which forced Cosgrave to resign from Web Summit, "Schulman and his partners decided not to accept Cosgrave's investment".[1]
See also
- Naftali Bennett
- Wiz (company)
- Cyber and tech firms founded by ex Unit 8200 or occupation forces veterans
External links
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Sophie Shulman, The Wiz of GenAI security? "Lasso has the potential to be a once-in-a-decade company in cyber" Ctech, 15 December 2024, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lasso Security, Lasso Team: Get to know Lasso Lasso, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Steve Hartsoe, Former Israeli Prime Minister Discusses Middle East Issues Duke Today, 23 March 2023, accessed 10 November 2026.