Airia, a rising enterprise AI security and orchestration platform, has made headlines by announcing it has secured a significant $100 million in funding. This investment is crucial for the company as it aims to help organizations safely deploy and scale their artificial intelligence initiatives. Out of the total funding, $50 million has already been invested, while the remaining $50 million commitment was revealed recently.
The primary backer for this funding is John Marshall, one of Airia’s co-founders. He has a noteworthy history in the tech industry, having previously co-founded AirWatch, which VMware acquired for $1.54 billion. Until 2023, Marshall also served as Co-Chairman at OneTrust. Now, he is committing an additional $100 million to accelerate Airia’s mission further and drive innovation in the adoption of enterprise AI.
Airia was founded in 2024 and has quickly made its mark in the industry. Within just one year of emerging from stealth mode, the company has onboarded over 300 enterprise customers around the world. This rapid growth is evident in the expansion of its workforce, which has grown to 150 employees across five continents. Airia has established operational bases in key global cities, including Atlanta, Singapore, London, Dubai, Melbourne, Sofia, and Bangalore. Additionally, the company has welcomed thousands of users through its free starter tier, enabling many organizations to begin their AI journey with the help of Airia’s platform.
Looking ahead, Airia is poised to enter a new stage of growth under the guidance of CEO Kevin Kiley. Previously serving as President, Kiley brings a wealth of experience in scaling technology businesses and will oversee Airia’s expansion into new industries and global markets. Meanwhile, John Marshall will transition to the role of Chairman, allowing him to continue shaping the company’s long-term strategic vision.
At the heart of Airia’s platform is a solution to one of the biggest challenges faced by enterprises in the realm of AI: how to manage vulnerabilities and maintain control over the use of AI at scale while still encouraging employee innovation. Airia’s architecture is model-agnostic, meaning it provides enterprises with the necessary visibility and control over both their in-house AI models and external agents. This capability is vital for ensuring compliance, protecting data privacy, and creating a secure operational environment. The platform incorporates enterprise-grade safeguards, such as role-based permissions and AI firewalls, to facilitate these goals.
With the new funding in place, Airia plans to invest heavily in enhancing its innovation, especially around AI security. The company has already developed a solid portfolio of key patents and has many more pending. This not only strengthens its position in the marketplace but also underscores its commitment to being a leader in developing secure and scalable AI infrastructure.
The experienced leadership team at Airia is now focused on building the governance and orchestration layer that enterprises will depend on for the foreseeable future. With extensive experience in enterprise security and compliance, Airia is well-equipped to combine proven execution with innovative strategies. The goal is to help organizations harness the benefits of artificial intelligence responsibly and effectively at scale.
KEY QUOTES:
“Enterprises are racing to adopt AI, but many are running into the same obstacles: security risks, fragmented deployments, and unclear ROI. We started Airia to give enterprises a safer and simpler path to AI adoption, one that combines orchestration, governance, and security from the start. I believe so strongly in this mission that I’m backing it personally with $100 million of my own capital.”
John Marshall, Chairman of Airia
“Airia was built for this moment. With startup agility and a proven team seasoned in guiding global enterprises through previous technological shifts, we’re helping organizations deploy AI securely today while building the governance and orchestration layer the industry will rely on for the next decade.”
Kevin Kiley, CEO of Airia
“For AI to deliver sustainable business value, enterprises must ensure every deployment is secure, governed, and adaptable. Airia’s platform delivers on these needs by providing flexible model integration, built-in security safeguards, and operational transparency across the AI lifecycle, enabling organizations to scale AI with confidence and control.”
Kathy Lange, Research Director at IDC’s AI and Automation practice
