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90% of breaches are still caused by phishing. Rules failed. We built reasoning.

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StrongestLayer, the AI-native email security platform delivering security expertise at scale, today announced it has secured $5.2 million in seed funding led by Sorenson Capital, with participation from strategic investors aligned with our mission. This funding will accelerate product innovation and go-to-market expansion as we continue to transform how mid-market organizations defend against increasingly evasive AI-generated phishing attacks.

The Problem We’re Solving

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The rise of generative AI has permanently altered the cyber threat landscape. Attackers now use jailbroken LLMs to craft thousands of personalized, context-aware phishing emails—at scale and in seconds. These messages evade traditional detection because they don’t reuse content, follow predictable structures, or exhibit statistical anomalies. And the result is clear: phishing remains the top vector in over 90% of breaches, with detection systems designed for yesterday’s threats falling dangerously short.

Mid-market organizations are caught in a growing security gap. They face enterprise-level attack sophistication without enterprise-level resources. With limited SOC capacity, no in-house threat intelligence, and growing alert fatigue, these teams are left exposed to AI-enabled Business Email Compromise (BEC), vendor fraud, and deepfakes that legacy security tools miss entirely.

"The traditional 'Patient Zero' model—detect, analyze, and react—has collapsed under the weight of modern, polymorphic threats," said Alan Lefort, CEO of StrongestLayer. "These attacks are generated on the fly and optimized in real time. The only viable defense is a system that understands malicious intent, not just matches known indicators."

Our AI-Native Approach

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StrongestLayer’s platform is powered by TRACE (Threat Reasoning and AI Correlation Engine), an intent-driven detection system designed to reason like a human analyst. Rather than relying on signatures or historical training data, TRACE ingests behavioral baselines, sender reputation, communication patterns, domain infrastructure, and organizational context to ask a fundamentally different question: Does this message make sense for this person, in this moment?

StrongestLayer's technological breakthrough isn't just about applying AI to email security, it's about fundamentally rethinking how email threats should be detected and prevented,” shares Ken Elefant, Partner at Sorenson Capital. “The platform’s proprietary AI architecture was designed for real-time performance at scale, analyzing threats across multiple vectors simultaneously - delivering the kind of capability security leaders have long been seeking.

“StrongestLayer isn’t iterating on outdated models — they’ve reimagined how email threats should be detected in an AI-first world.” said Somrat Niyogi, Partner at Recall Capital.“Their platform doesn’t just keep up with attackers; it outthinks them. That’s the kind of category leadership we’re excited to back.”

“Phishing attacks aren’t just evolving — they’re mutating,” said Eric Sanchez, CISO at Orrick. “With generative AI, attackers can craft highly convincing, targeted messages at scale, making traditional defenses obsolete. The real risk isn’t just in the inbox — it’s in every human decision that follows.”

“Modern phishing doesn’t just exploit systems — it exploits people,” said Deonne Prentice, Information Security Program Manager at Accelerant. “We needed a solution that doesn’t just block threats but understands human context and risk. StrongestLayer gives us the ability to detect deception before it becomes a bad decision.”

Delivering Security Expertise at Scale

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StrongestLayer’s TRACE engine deploys in minutes via API and integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Unlike legacy products, which often take days to configure and tune, StrongestLayer requires no rules or thresholds. It adapts instantly to your environment and scales with your business—bringing the judgment of a threat analyst to every inbox, at machine speed.

Already in production across industries such as legal, banking, insurance, and manufacturing, StrongestLayer is protecting organizations where the need for coverage is high—but the capacity for complexity is low.

About StrongestLayer

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StrongestLayer is redefining email security for the AI era. Our TRACE engine detects phishing threats others miss—without signatures, sandboxing, or static rules. Built to understand intent and adapt in real time, StrongestLayer delivers enterprise-grade protection to the mid-market with the simplicity and speed they need. To learn more, visit [website] or connect with us on LinkedIn.

About Sorenson Capital

Sorenson Capital is a leading venture capital firm founded in 2017 that invests in product-oriented B2B software companies with a strong focus on cybersecurity. Based in Palo Alto, California and Lehi, Utah, the firm partners with founders who are building the next generation of enterprise security solutions. Led by Ken Elefant and other experienced investors, Sorenson Ventures takes a hands-on approach to helping portfolio companies accelerate growth and achieve market leadership. The firm's cybersecurity expertise and network make them an ideal partner for innovative companies like StrongestLayer that are developing cutting-edge solutions to combat evolving threats.

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Sorenson Capital is a leading venture capital firm focused on investing in early and growth-stage AI, cybersecurity, B2B software, and DevOps & infrastructure companies. With over $1.6 billion in assets under management, the firm supports entrepreneurs through every stage of their journey to accelerate revenue growth and further their product leadership position. Sorenson Capital’s investments in product leaders include AirGap, Amplitude, BambooHR, Bridgecrew, CloudKnox, Couchbase, Fastly, Harness, Socure, and Talon Security. With offices in Palo Alto, CA and Lehi, UT, Sorenson is proud to partner with entrepreneurs from coast to canyon. 

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To learn more about Sorenson Capital, please visit: https://www.sorensoncapital.com/ . 

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About Recall Capital

Recall Capital is a venture capital firm that partners with early-stage B2B software companies, with a focus on go-to-market execution. Founded in 2023 and based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the firm invests primarily at the pre-seed stage in categories like AI, SaaS, fintech, and infrastructure.

Recall takes a hands-on approach to company building—working closely with founders to refine messaging, accelerate pipeline, and establish early revenue traction. Led by experienced operators Somrat Niyogi and Sarah Tierney Niyogi, the team brings deep go-to-market expertise and an active network of advisors and growth leaders.

Recall Capital has supported dozens of startups during the critical zero-to-one phase and is known for being highly engaged and execution-focused. Their tactical support and early-stage experience make them a valuable partner for companies like StrongestLayer that are navigating fast-moving markets.

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To learn more about Sorenson Capital, please visit:  https://www.recall.capital/

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