Neo Exits Stealth with $100M from a16z and Bessemer to Build AI Control Layer
Neo, founded by SentinelOne veterans, has raised $100M from a16z and Bessemer Venture Partners, with Craft Ventures and Merlin Ventures also participating. The company aims to create a real-time control layer for agentic AI software within enterprises.
Addressing the Growing Trend of Agentic AI
According to Gartner, only 5% of enterprise apps had agentic capabilities in 2025, but this is projected to rise to 40% by the end of 2026. Neo’s platform addresses the security challenge posed by these autonomous applications, which are becoming increasingly integrated into browsers, developer tools, SaaS platforms, and legacy apps.
Neo’s Solution
Neo offers SecOps teams a comprehensive view of every AI agent and agentic-enabled app across the organization. It assesses their capabilities and risks, maps actions to responsible users or agents, and enforces policies to prevent risky activities. The platform covers AI agents, applications, browser extensions, MCP servers, plugins, and traditional software gaining agentic features.
Competing in a Growing Category
The category is rapidly emerging, with competitors like Straiker raising funds for similar agentic security solutions earlier this year, and NewCore focusing on giving AI agents corporate identities. Neo’s focus on the control layer aims to position itself as a leader in this nascent market.
The Investment
With $100 million in seed funding, a16z and Bessemer are betting on Neo’s potential to dominate the agentic AI control space. The investment underscores the significance of addressing the security challenges posed by rapidly evolving AI technologies within enterprises.
By Ana Maria Constantin