NexGuards: Egyptian AI Startup Aims to Lead Human Cyber Risk Management

Egypt's NexGuards is working to establish itself in the cybersecurity market by developing AI-based solutions for managing human risks within organizations. This comes at a time when cyberattacks increasingly target the human element, often seen as the weakest link in digital security. The company is building a specialized platform to help organizations boost security awareness, measure human risks, and enhance employee readiness to face evolving cyber threats.

AI-Powered Solutions for Human Risk Management

NexGuards focuses on the concept of Human Cyber Risk Management. This approach uses AI and analyzes user behavior within organizations to manage human risks, which is crucial given the growing sophistication of AI-powered cyberattacks that are becoming more complex and effective at targeting employees. The company offers a specialized platform for security awareness and human risk management. It's designed to fix the gaps in traditional training programs, which often can't keep up with the multi-stage and customized nature of modern cyberattacks that use AI. The platform provides advanced simulations for phishing attacks and vishing (voice phishing) attacks. It also offers adaptive training programs tailored to each job role and its associated risk level. This is all enhanced by real-time threat intelligence and open-source data to create realistic training scenarios. NexGuards also uses gamification techniques and analytical dashboards. These tools help organizations measure security awareness, reduce phishing risks, strengthen human defenses, and build measurable cyber resilience.

Recent Launch and Rapid Growth

NexGuards was founded in 2025 and began its commercial operations in September of the same year. In a short time, it has provided services to thousands of users within several organizations before expanding into the Saudi market as part of its regional growth plan. The company is led by Mohamed Sherif and Youssef Aboulatta. They are focused on developing solutions for both government and private institutions that want to reduce risks stemming from the human element, which is a primary source of cyber breaches.

Awards, Grants, and Supportive Partnerships

NexGuards achieved its first major milestone by winning first place in the WE Innovate Hackathon, a cybersecurity-focused competition. This earned them a non-refundable grant of 500,000 EGP, supported by the National Bank of Egypt, the National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA), WE, and EG-CERT. This support has been crucial for the company to develop its products and speed up its expansion. The company has also formed partnerships with several sales partners to expand the reach of its solutions in the region's markets. The focus is on organizations looking to enhance their employees' readiness to counter advanced cyberattacks.

Graduating from Kernel Camp in Silicon Valley

NexGuards continued to strengthen its international presence after graduating from the first cohort of Kernel Camp. This is an intensive residency program for deep tech startups organized by Propeller, a venture capital firm specializing in AI and digital infrastructure investments, and hosted in Silicon Valley, USA. The eight-week program included five startups from Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Jordan. During the program, they received intensive development programs, mentorship sessions with AI experts, and direct networking opportunities with global investors and technology decision-makers. During their residency, NexGuards' founders participated in weekly meetings with executives and investors from global companies and institutions, including Airbnb, Meta, OpenAI, JP Morgan, Cartesia, Rho, Lux Capital, Mozilla Ventures, Plug and Play, and Mentors Fund. This allowed them to learn about the latest trends in building tech companies and developing AI-powered products. The company also participated in a special investor event hosted by Silicon Valley Bank, where they presented their project to a group of angel investors. Additionally, they made field visits to several tech companies in Silicon Valley to learn about operational models and innovation cultures within major AI and software firms.

Expansion Plans and Upcoming Funding Round

NexGuards aims to double its business in the coming phase while strengthening its presence in Middle Eastern markets. This growth will capitalize on the rapidly increasing demand for AI-driven cybersecurity solutions. Although the company has not yet announced any investment rounds, it confirmed that it is considering its first USD-denominated funding round to support its expansion plans. The focus will be on further developing its products and growing its customer base in regional and international markets. This move comes at a time when the human cyber risk management sector is attracting increasing interest from investors globally, as it is one of the fastest-growing areas in digital security. This provides NexGuards with an excellent opportunity to leverage this momentum to build an Egyptian tech company with a strong regional and international presence.