In mid-2016, while Russian agents were breaking into the Democratic National Committee’s emails in an attempt to influence the presidential election, Josh Kamdjou was hacking for the Defense Department. He learned that the best way to break into networks was through phishing attacks. In 2019, he founded cybersecurity startup Sublime to apply his knowledge to protect against this threat. With the rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, creating believable malicious emails has become even easier. Sublime is training its code to spot AI-powered phishing emails targeting people’s inboxes.
To combat AI scams, Sublime has announced a $20 million funding round led by Index Ventures, bringing its total funding to over $30 million. Jahanvi Sardana, Index partner and lead investor in Sublime, emphasized that AI has become a superpower for attackers, making them the greatest beneficiaries of this trend. Sublime’s customer base includes private industry clients like Spotify, Reddit, and Centrica, as well as a major political campaign. The company is also working with the nonprofit Defending Digital Campaigns (DDC) to provide cybersecurity products to political organizations.
Sublime uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect and defend against phishing attacks. After successfully defending against an attack for one customer, the software can replicate that defense for other clients. While this approach is not entirely novel, Kamdjou’s expertise in military intelligence could give Sublime an edge in detection algorithms, according to Sarah Pavlak, a former government intelligence employee and principal analyst at Frost & Sullivan. She noted that Kamdjou’s experience in hacking and military intelligence could be particularly valuable for high-value targets like presidential candidates.
Kamdjou stated that his motivation in founding Sublime was driven by national security concerns. He is pleased to be able to apply his skills in a meaningful way to protect against cyber threats. The company’s tactics involve looking for patterns across its clients to enhance its defense mechanisms. Sublime’s ability to leverage AI and machine learning, combined with Kamdjou’s background in military intelligence, positions it well in the cybersecurity market. The company’s recent funding round and expansion into political campaigns highlight its growing influence in the industry.
Representatives for political campaigns, including Biden, Trump, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., had not responded to requests for comments regarding their use of Sublime. However, the Defending Digital Campaigns nonprofit confirmed that it was providing Sublime to political organizations for cybersecurity protection. Kamdjou expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to national security once again through Sublime. The company’s focus on defense against phishing attacks, particularly those powered by AI, showcases its commitment to safeguarding sensitive information for its clients.
