What are explainable AI (XAI) startups?

Think of explainable AI (XAI) startups as companies that create “AI translators”.  They translate complex AI decisions into language and explanations that regular people can understand and trust. Imagine you’re using a navigation app like Google Maps. You put your destination, and it gives you a route. That’s easy to understand because it shows you the road and explains why it chose that route, it has either less traffic or it’s shorter.

Now, what if the app just told you to turn right or turn left without showing you the map or explaining why? Not cool right? Well, that’s similar to how many AI systems work today, they make decisions but don’t explain why or how they reached those conclusions. This is where XAI startups enter the picture. They aim to create tools that make AI systems more like that navigation app with a clear map, and not just a mysterious voice telling you where to go.

Top explainable AI (XAI) startups

Complete list of the most explainable AI (XAI) startups that are worth knowing:

Stardog

Founded in 2006, Stardog is a software company that has developed Voicebox, an AI-powered data assistant for businesses. Voicebox lets employees ask questions about company data and get clear, explainable answers quickly.

Accessing insights locked away in enterprise databases often requires coding skills or waiting on data analysts. Voicebox simplifies this by letting anyone query data stores through natural conversation. Users can ask business questions like “What were our top selling products last quarter?” and Voicebox serves up the answer along with relevant charts or tables.

Anthropic

Founded in 2021, Anthropic is a startup working on safe artificial intelligence (AI) systems that are trustworthy and helpful. They bring together experts in machine learning, physics, ethics, and product design to create AI that works reliably for real-world uses. Many existing AI tools have flaws that lead to biased results or cause other unintended harm. Anthropic develops methods to improve AI safety so these systems remain under human control. Their teams rigorously test for risks during training to prevent errors down the line.

Anthropic’s first product is Claude – a conversational assistant focused on being truthful, harmless, and honest even when faced with tricky questions. Most chatbots try to make up answers even when wrong. Claude admits what it does not know to establish clear trust with users.

Reality Defender

Founded in 2021, Reality Defender offers a platform that detects deepfake videos, images, and audio to stop fraud. Deepfakes use AI to make fake content that looks and sounds real. Many companies face issues with false user profiles or altered documents. Reality Defender lets groups upload media to scan for deepfake manipulation. Their technology gives each file a risk score to show the likelihood it’s fake.

Users can set up email alerts for any high-risk content found. The platform generates PDF reports with details on what factors flag a file as an AI-created fake. Reality Defender also allows reviewing visual forensics online to inspect indicators within images and video. By spotting doctored files and synthetic impersonations early, Reality Defender aims to help corporations, government groups, and social platforms control malicious misinformation and fakes. Their API allows partners to check user-generated content at scale.

Hacarus

Founded in 2014, originally founded for healthcare applications, Hacarus now aims to make nutritious eating easier through personalized recommendations. The Hacarus app lets users log meals and rate preferences. Advanced AI takes your diet data and learns your taste and nutrition needs. It creates a customized food plan just for you to support wellness goals like losing weight or managing conditions like diabetes.

Features include grocery lists aligned to your diet specs, smart meal reminders, a restaurant finder, recipes tailored to restrictions and tastes, and progress dashboards. Hacarus guides users step-by-step towards balanced, sustainable habits.

Genie AI

Founded in 2017, Genie AI is like having an entire law firm draft personalized documents on demand 24/7 for a fraction of the cost and time. Lawyers built the system so all paperwork adheres precisely to relevant compliance laws. Business users get fast, affordable access to professionally legit agreements unique to their needs.

Generating legal paperwork used to mean sifting through dense templates, making revisions with complex legal terminology, and double-checking compatibility across geographies. Genie AI streamlines all that. Users simply describe what they need – say a vendor services contract or employment offer letter – and Genie AI handles the rest.

Charles River Analytics

Founded in 1983, Charles River Analytics has aimed to push intelligent systems to their useful limits in finance, healthcare, aerospace and other industries. Their platforms digest gigantic volumes of data to detect patterns and make predictions no unaided human could. But their engineers ensure transparency, control, and human oversight so trust and ethics match capabilities.

With computation power and datasets growing rapidly, Charles River Analytics blends evolved AI, flexible interfaces, and user experience expertise. This delivers advanced systems their clients rely on for optimal, informed decisions. The future-focused company creatively marshals hybrid human-computer systems to solve complex problems and expand possibilities.

Convoy

Founded in 2005, Convoy is a technology platform that matches shippers who need items transported with nearby trucking companies that have capacity. This makes booking freight trucks fast and simple.

In the past, shippers would have to call or email multiple trucking firms to coordinate deliveries. Convoy streamlines this by using real-time tracking of truck locations and available capacity. Shippers can instantly compare rates and book a qualified trucker through the Convoy app or website.

Kapa.ai

Founded in 2023, kapa.ai is a company that creates AI-powered chatbots to provide technical support. Their bots are designed specifically for software teams and developer tools. The Kapa platform hooks into over 40 knowledge bases, documentation portals, and databases full of codes and APIs.

This wealth of data trains the natural language capabilities of kapa bots. The bots can then have personalized conversations with developers about troubleshooting, finding code examples, or navigating technical documentation for various programming languages and frameworks.

Fiddler

Founded in 2018, Fiddler is a startup that offers an Explainable AI platform to help companies create more transparent and trustworthy AI systems. The founders started Fiddler because they saw a need for AI technology that business leaders and regulators could actually understand.

Typical AI models are complex black boxes that provide predictions and recommendations without context behind them. In contrast, Fiddler’s platform requires AI systems to explain their reasoning in human terms. Their tools annotate machine learning processes to make capabilities and limitations clear.

Databricks

Founded in 2013, Databricks provides a software platform that helps companies analyze all their data to solve challenging problems. As the most popular unified data analytics service, Databricks aims to enable data-driven decision-making across organizations.

The Databricks platform combines simplified data pipelines with analytics, machine learning, and AI tools that allow teams to process data of any type from any source. This unified system makes data-intensive tasks accessible for more business units so expertise is no longer a barrier to gaining data insights.

Z Advanced Computing

Founded in 2013, ZAC (Z Advanced Computing) has developed an artificial intelligence platform for image recognition and visual search that aims to replicate the way humans see and learn. Their technology, built on Explainable AI, can identify and classify objects in 3D images using very few image samples for training.

The ZAC platform takes an approach called modular deep learning that mirrors how people focus on the visual details that matter. By understanding patterns like shapes, textures, and more, the system develops reusable knowledge. ZAC’s image recognition keeps improving cumulatively as new learning builds on itself over time.

ArthurAI

Founded in 2018, ArthurAI has developed a platform for closely monitoring AI models to ensure they keep working properly over time. As companies deploy more machine learning systems, it’s crucial to catch any decreases in performance quickly.

The Arthur service keeps a close eye on all AI models to make sure accuracy and effectiveness don’t degrade. It establishes a baseline of normal functioning when the model is first implemented. From there, Arthur’s monitoring tools detect even small dips in metrics like precision, recall and bias.

Monolith AI

Founded in 2016, Monolith AI is an engineering software company that uses machine learning and massive computing power to assist human engineers. Their technology combines artificial intelligence (AI), data visualization tools, and high-performance computers to help products get built faster.

The Monolith platform streamlines complex engineering by using AI to automate repeatable steps. It predicts outcomes of analyses and runs intensive simulations rapidly – things that physical testing would take far longer to do. Engineers obtain more data and insights more efficiently to accelerate the development process.

Abridge

Founded in 2018, Abridge is a shipping logistics company that makes international freight transport to/from Asia easier for importers and exporters. They digitize the entire process from cargo booking to delivery through their online platform. Exporters can book cargo space and submit documentation completely online. Abridge then optimizes container packing to save money. They handle all the export/import compliance paperwork as well.

The Abridge dashboard provides real-time shipment visibility and status notifications. There are also digital communication channels connecting cargo owners to all supply chain parties. This simplifies getting answers or resolving issues.

FAIRLY

Founded in 2015, FAIRLY is a company that helps other businesses create fair and ethical artificial intelligence (AI) systems. As AI gets used more in products and services, FAIRLY wants to make sure it works equally well for everyone. FAIRLY works with teams building AI algorithms. They scan algorithms to check that AI models don’t unintentionally discriminate against groups like races, genders, or ages. Their tools analyze if AI systems make biased decisions. Then they give guidance on fixing issues.

Making sure AI is fair and doesn’t create biased outcomes is important for companies’ reputations. It also keeps customers, employees and business partners protected as AI gets integrated more. FAIRLY enables organizations to build AI responsibly while still advancing their goals.

DarwinAI

Founded in 2017, DarwinAI is an AI company that builds tools to help understand machine learning systems better. Their “generative synthesis” technology lets developers interpret and explain their AI models.

The DarwinAI toolkit diagnoses issues inside deep learning networks. This allows debugging models, enhancing their design, and assessing regulatory requirements. As AI gets incorporated into real-world software, explainability becomes crucial.

Imandra

Founded in 2014, Imandra is a technology company that offers automated reasoning solutions to help test and monitor algorithms. Their platform provides “Reasoning as a Service” to validate the logic and safety of complex software like those used in banking, robotics, self-driving vehicles, and AI modeling.

Imandra’s system works like a mathematician double-checking equations. It analyzes the code logic behind critical algorithms to check for hidden flaws, gaps or inconsistencies that lead to errors and failure over time. This governance protects systems from malfunctioning in risky ways.

Kubit AI

Kubit AI is a software company that helps online businesses understand how customers use their apps and websites. The Kubit platform analyzes large volumes of user data to uncover patterns. Their technology aims to quickly identify issues and opportunities so product teams can improve.

The Kubit analytics engine tracks detailed customer interactions within eCommerce sites and mobile apps. This allows them to detect usage changes over time to find problems impacting conversions or engagement. Instead of just reporting metrics trends, Kubit’s algorithms figure out the root causes behind rises and dips.

Craft AI

Founded in 2015, Craft AI is an artificial intelligence company that created ready-to-use AI tools for businesses to add to their existing products and systems. Their plug-and-play APIs make it easy for product developers and ops teams to integrate smart automation without data science skills.

The Craft AI libraries run right out of the box to track data patterns. They monitor things like user engagement, operational performance, device usage, and more to provide helpful predictions. The AI identifies trends and abnormal activity so teams can proactively adjust.

Fiddler Labs

Founded in 2018, Fiddler Labs is an AI startup focused on making artificial intelligence more understandable and reliable. They have an AI engine that explains how machine learning models make decisions. This helps data scientists, product teams, and businesses monitor their AI to prevent errors.

When AI behaves like a black box, it becomes untrustworthy. Fiddler opens up that black box. Their platform translates complex AI calculations into simplified reports. By revealing the reasoning behind AI outputs, they enable continuous improvement.

Conclusion

These explainable AI (XAI) startups are breaking new ground to make artificial intelligence more transparent and trustworthy. Through innovative solutions, user-friendly platforms, and transformative technologies, by unraveling the complex decision-making processes of AI models, these companies are empowering both individuals and organizations to make informed decisions, establish trust, and proactively address potential risks.

What are zero-trust security startups?

To break it down in a simpler way, think of zero-trust security startups as companies that create a new way of protecting your digital “house.” Instead of just having a strong front door, they’re like having a door to every room, and everyone needs to show their ID card before entering each room, every single time. This approach addresses business security risks by ensuring that even if an intruder manages to go past the initial defenses, they won’t be able to access sensitive data without proper authorization, which significantly boosts overall security.

Top zero-trust security startups

Complete list of the most zero-trust security startups that are worth knowing:

Authomize

Founded in 2019, Authomize is a cybersecurity company that helps protect organizations against hacking and breaches involving user identities. Their platform called ITDR gathers and standardizes identity data across an organization’s cloud services, apps, and identity access tools.

By centralizing identity information, Authomize can detect risky user activities, access issues, and policy violations. Their system establishes patterns for normal behavior so abnormalities stand out. Security teams can use Authomize to investigate problems like compromised accounts or data theft by tracing all user actions.

Airgap Networks

Founded in 2019, Airgap Networks is a cybersecurity company providing innovative “zero trust” technology to stop hackers from spreading inside computer systems. Their product, called Zero Trust Network Access Everywhere (ZTNae), takes a unique approach to secure businesses.

Airgap’s technology keeps adding advanced features for threat prevention and detection as hacking techniques evolve. Their innovation and fast implementation of comprehensive zero-trust security are gaining attention as high-profile breaches hit headlines. With an expanding customer base relying on their ZTNae platform, Airgap aims to revolutionize enterprise security from the inside out.

Elisity

Founded in 2018, Elisity is a cybersecurity company that offers a zero-trust access solution for businesses. Their product provides secure access control by using identity-based segmentation. This means access rights to sensitive data or systems are granted based on verifying each user’s identity and trust level.

The Elisity platform uses artificial intelligence to assess risk levels associated with different users and devices trying to access company resources. Their software acts like an intelligent gatekeeper, only letting in users who have verified identities and authorizations. Any suspicious or abnormal activity triggers alerts.

Mesh Security

Founded in 2021, Mesh Security offers a software platform to help businesses strengthen their cybersecurity using a “zero trust” approach. Zero trust means continually checking and confirming access instead of just letting users in once.

The Mesh platform acts as command central for applying zero-trust controls across all of a company’s security tools, apps, and cloud services. Regardless of the specific cybersecurity stack, Mesh gives unified visibility and control. Companies can implement consistent safeguards for maximum protection.

NXM Labs

Founded in 2016, NXM Labs focuses on “zero trust” cybersecurity for Internet of Things (IoT) devices and networks. Zero trust means never trusting a device or user in the system by default verification is always required. NXM offers security solutions to automate the protection of IoT networks scaling to thousands of devices.

Their technology can onboard new devices securely without needing to touch or configure each one individually. This “zero-touch” approach saves costs for large networks. NXM Labs solutions integrate identity management, encryption, and access policies to monitor all IoT activity for threats. Abnormal behavior triggers automated responses to prevent breaches.

Ory

Founded in 2019, Ory is a cybersecurity startup focused on zero-trust identity and access management. Their cloud platform called Ory Cloud helps companies control access to applications and data by verifying user identities. Ory uses open-source identity and authorization tools built on open standards to provide flexible security options. Companies can integrate Ory into their existing systems like cloud platforms and internal apps.

Once installed, Ory authenticates employee and customer identities before allowing access attempts. It checks multiple factors like passwords, fingerprints or security keys to verify users. Granular permission policies then authorize or restrict what verified users can access based on their roles.

Resiliant

Founded in 2019, Resiliant is a cybersecurity startup focused on digital identity and access management. Their main product is an identity and access system called ICAM powered by blockchain technology. At the core of Resiliant’s ICAM platform is their proprietary digital identity token called the IdNFT. It uses encryption on the blockchain to assign users a secure credential that proves their identity across systems and services. This allows passwordless authentication that is both convenient and more hack-proof.

The IdNFT acts like a digital passport allowing access only to appropriate accounts and data. Resiliant’s system integrates with existing IT infrastructure to strengthen identity policies and reduce risks. It provides a full audit trail showing who accessed what and when across an organization.

Surf Security

Founded in 2021, Surf Security developed a secure web browser based on chromium technology for safe browsing at organizations. Their zero-trust browser bolsters security by isolating and restricting website access to prevent attacks and data theft. Unlike VPNs that route traffic through a single tunnel, Surf sandboxed every tab and site into discrete microenvironments.

This containment means one compromised webpage can’t infect the browser or launch larger attacks. Granular controls neutralize threats while allowing normal browsing. The Surf browser also protects user privacy from prying employers. Browsing history, downloads, bookmarks, and other activities stay on the user’s device so staff can work freely without feeling monitored. Surf enables security policies while still ensuring personal privacy.

Tailscale

Founded in 2021, Tailscale is a company that offers secure networking software for businesses. Their goal is to connect devices remotely while protecting company data. Tailscale’s software uses WireGuard technology to create encrypted connections between devices – whether phones, laptops, or servers. This means employees can access internal systems no matter where they are. The software runs silently in the background to keep connections private.

Unlike virtual private network (VPN) tools, Tailscale doesn’t route all traffic. It only establishes secure links needed to access company tools and apps. This zero-trust approach limits access to verify what can connect.

TrueFort

Founded in 2015, TrueFort provides cybersecurity software to stop threats from spreading within networks and cloud environments. Their technology specifically blocks lateral movement which is when hackers infiltrate and then navigate internal systems to extract data or take control.

TrueFort Cloud secures cloud infrastructure and identities by preventing abuse of service accounts. These administrator-type logins manage servers and are often targets. TrueFort locks down credentials and entitlements to deny access propagation. They also sniff out suspicious internal activities like unusual user account access or application installs that signal an intruder.

Worldr

Founded in 2019, Worldr is a cybersecurity startup that develops zero-trust protection for messaging and collaboration platforms used by companies. Zero-trust means their products continuously check and authorize every access attempt rather than assume people or systems should automatically have entry.

Worldr’s security tools integrate seamlessly with apps like Slack or Zoom. Employees simply download a plugin to enable extra encryption, access controls, and monitoring that prevents data leakage. Behind the simple user experience is a complex security network that gives companies oversight similar to in-house applications.

Xage Security

Xage Security is a company that provides cybersecurity for industrial Internet-of-things (IoT) devices and systems. Their software focuses on a “zero trust” approach tailored to securing operational technology and IT infrastructure.

Operational technology refers to hardware and software running machinery, factories, energy utilities, and other industrial sites. Xage gives operators visibility and control to manage IoT and edge devices remotely. Their platform authenticates user access and communication between equipment using identity policies and encryption. This “zero trust” strategy locks down OT systems by default and grants the least privileged access to operate them.

Tigera

Founded in 2016, Tigera is a cybersecurity startup that helps businesses protect their cloud infrastructure that uses Kubernetes technology. Kubernetes helps companies manage and deploy cloud applications. Tigera offers cloud security tools tailored to Kubernetes environments deployed on public, private, or multi-cloud platforms. Their software integrates directly with Kubernetes to give users more control and visibility over security.

Tigera provides a zero-trust approach called “secure by default” that locks down cloud access and workloads. Their tools also automate security policies and compliance reporting. By integrating natively with Kubernetes, installation and management are simplified.

InfraOpS

Founded in 2017, InfraOpS is a cybersecurity startup that helps companies implement zero-trust network access without needing to overhaul their existing IT systems. Their product is a router and firewall solution that provides zero-trust capabilities to enable stronger security. The InfraOpS zero-trust router sits inside a company’s computer network to monitor all traffic flowing between users, servers, and applications. Their next-generation firewall software analyzes activity to identify suspicious access attempts that could indicate a breach.

Unlike traditional firewalls that blindly trust anyone already inside the network perimeter, InfraOpS takes a zero-trust approach – meaning no user or device is trusted by default, regardless of location. This stops attackers from exploiting blind spots to spread malware or steal data by questioning every network transaction.

VIBE Cybersecurity

Founded in 2024, VIBE Cybersecurity is a startup working on new encryption and authentication technology for better security in digital communications. They are developing an advanced system of protecting messages and data transfers without needing traditional digital certificates.

Their technology allows dynamic encryption keys to be exchanged without prior shared certificates to validate the keys – instead, the keys themselves have encrypted validation data embedded. This certificate-less approach speeds up secure connections since keys can be created on the fly without central certificate authorities.

Teleport

Founded in 2015, Teleport provides an open-source software platform that helps organizations manage access controls for their IT infrastructure, apps, and data stored in the cloud. Their platform acts as a single access gateway so security teams can easily audit and authorize usage across all computing resources.

In the past, maintaining consistent security standards and logging actions across in-house servers, multiple cloud accounts, and various applications could be a major challenge. Teleport consolidates identity and access management into one unified control panel for traditional and cloud IT resources. Using their software, IT admins can create and enforce access policies, monitor activity, and block unauthorized actions across all company systems from a single location.

BastionZero

Founded in 2017, BastionZero is a cybersecurity company that offers a secure remote access service for businesses. Their product Bastion provides a VPN gateway that protects access to a company’s servers, containers, and cloud infrastructure. The Bastion service features controls to prevent unauthorized logins even if credentials are compromised.

It includes SSH key management, integration with single sign-on systems, and the ability to automatically detect servers and assets that need protection. BastionZero tracks all sessions to detect attacks and attempted break-ins. The platform can block known hacker tools and tactics to stop intrusions. Detailed monitoring provides information to trace the source of any malicious access attempts.

Enclave Networks

Founded in 2020, Enclave Networks is a company that develops secure access solutions for businesses’ networks and devices. Their product provides “zero trust” access control that constantly checks identities and permissions before allowing connections. The Enclave platform automates setting up and managing private peer-to-peer networks within a company. These networks only allow access to pre-approved users and devices. Traffic flows directly device-to-device encrypted without routing through a central point.

This approach prevents unauthorized access or sniffing out devices to target. IT teams can instantly spin up new private networks with defined policies rather than managing rules firewall by firewall. Networks configure themselves based on the roles and requirements of the users and systems involved.

FileFlex

Founded in 2016, FileFlex is a secure file-sharing and collaboration service that allows users to easily manage, access, and control their files from anywhere. Created by software company Qnext, FileFlex lets people share documents and work together on projects with efficient features and tightened security.

Designed for robust enterprise information protection, FileFlex lets IT departments grant and monitor staff access. Audit logs track each user’s activity so security teams can watch for suspicious behavior. With robust controls suitable for regulated data plus easy collaboration tools workers already enjoy, FileFlex bridges convenience and compliance.

StrongDM

Founded in 2015, StrongDM offers a solution for securing access to sensitive data and systems called Continuous Zero Trust Authorization. This goes beyond regular access controls that just verify a user’s identity. It also checks the context of each access request to spot risky behaviors in real-time.

For example, StrongDM can notice if a database admin usually works from a particular office, but now tries to access payroll data remotely. Or if an engineer suddenly downloads terabytes of proprietary code. By tracking what is “normal” access and what’s suspicious, StrongDM can block potential threats while they happen.

OKTA Identity Cloud

Founded in 2009, OKTA offers a cloud service called Identity Cloud that helps companies manage user accounts and access. It comes in two main products – Customer Identity Cloud and Workforce Identity Cloud.
The Customer Identity Cloud handles user login for a company’s clients and website visitors. It allows secure access without complex passwords. The Workforce Identity Cloud does the same for employee accounts across all the apps and devices that a company’s team uses.

Both OKTA products create a single hub for identity management, applying consistent security policies across a business. Accounts stay synced as users move between devices, networks, and locations. Features like single sign-on and multi-factor authentication boost security with less hassle for users.

BeyondTrust

Founded in 1985, BeyondTrust is a cybersecurity company that provides various zero-trust security tools for access control and endpoint protection. Their products cover important parts of zero trust security, including identity management, privileged access, and endpoint protection.

However, BeyondTrust sells these as separate modules that each require their own purchase and deployment. Implementing their full suite of zero-trust offerings can get complex and costly compared to more integrated platforms.

Conclusion

As the market matures, we’re likely to see consolidation, with larger security vendors acquiring innovative startups to enhance their zero-trust capabilities. The startups that survive independently will be those that can scale effectively while continuing to innovate in areas like AI-driven threat detection, automated policy enforcement, and seamless integration with existing enterprise systems.