Overmind & Osney Capital Advance Agentic AI Security in 2026

LONDON, February 11, 2026 — Overmind, a London-based cybersecurity startup founded by ex-MI5 engineer Tyler Edwards, has secured £2M in seed funding to address the pressing security challenges posed by agentic AI. According to TechFundingNews, the funding round was led by Osney Capital with participation from 14Peaks, Portfolio Ventures, Antler, and Endurance Ventures. The company aims to deliver real-time oversight for autonomous AI systems, ensuring safety and compliance in sectors like healthcare, fintech, and legal.

Key Developments

Agentic AI, defined as autonomous systems capable of making independent decisions, is becoming an essential driver of innovation across industries. For more on [related cyber security developments](/top-10-cybersecurity-trends-to-watch-in-2026-26-01-2026). However, traditional cybersecurity tools are proving inadequate in protecting these systems from adversarial attacks, corrupted data, and unpredictable behavior in active environments. According to Gartner, 40% of agentic AI initiatives could face cancellation by 2027 due to insufficient safeguards.

Overmind’s platform addresses these vulnerabilities by providing a specialized security layer for agentic AI. Unlike standard monitoring tools, Overmind offers real-time tracking of AI behavior, identifying anomalies and halting harmful actions before significant damage occurs. The platform also employs reinforcement learning to enhance agent reliability and performance over time, an approach designed to align safety with scalability. Early focus areas for deployment include regulated industries like healthcare, fintech, and legal, where strict compliance and privacy standards are critical.

The £2M funding round will fuel Overmind's efforts to expand its technical team, accelerate product development, and refine its go-to-market strategies. Notably, the company’s leadership, including CEO Tyler Edwards, CTO Akhat Rakishev, and CRO Sam Brunt, brings a wealth of experience from intelligence, high-growth startups, and scaling unicorns like Funding Circle and Monzo.

Market Context

The rapid rise of agentic AI has introduced both opportunities and challenges for enterprise markets. On one hand, these systems promise significant efficiency gains, especially in repetitive or complex workflows. On the other, their autonomy makes them inherently difficult to secure. Traditional cybersecurity measures, designed for static systems, are ill-equipped to handle the dynamic, decision-making nature of agentic AI.

In regulated sectors such as healthcare and financial services, the stakes are particularly high. Data breaches, non-compliance, and operational failures can lead to reputational damage and regulatory fines. Overmind’s focus on providing a deployment-layer security solution could help bridge the gap, enabling companies to adopt agentic AI without compromising safety or compliance.

Furthermore, the involvement of experienced investors like Osney Capital signals growing recognition of the need for specialized tools in this space. For more on [related cyber security developments](/top-10-cyber-security-courses-online-in-2026-best-training-programs-for-uk-us-canada-europe-hong-kong-uae-and-india-03-12-2025). With Gartner’s alarming forecast of stalled agentic AI projects, Overmind’s timing appears to be strategic, positioning itself as a potential market leader in AI security.

BUSINESS 2.0 Analysis

Overmind’s emergence highlights a critical inflection point for the AI industry. While the transformative potential of agentic AI is undeniable, its inherent risks threaten to undermine its adoption at scale. The startup’s approach to embedding intelligence-grade security directly into the deployment layer is both timely and necessary, especially as organizations grapple with the dual pressures of innovation and compliance.

What sets Overmind apart is its founding team’s depth of expertise. Tyler Edwards’ tenure at MI5, MI6, and GCHQ underscores a commitment to high-stakes, fail-safe security design. Meanwhile, Akhat Rakishev’s machine-learning experience at Monzo and Lyst, coupled with Sam Brunt’s track record scaling unicorns, provides a balance of technical acumen and commercial pragmatism. Together, they are well-positioned to navigate the complex demands of regulated industries.

From an investor lens, Overmind represents a high-upside opportunity. Its focus on reinforcement learning to enhance agentic AI systems could unlock unprecedented efficiencies in sectors like healthcare and fintech, where the cost of errors is steep. Additionally, its ability to secure early-stage backing from established firms like Osney Capital and 14Peaks reflects strong market validation.

However, challenges remain. Overmind will need to demonstrate that its technology can scale effectively across diverse use cases without introducing latency or operational bottlenecks. Furthermore, as more players enter the AI security space, maintaining a competitive edge will require continuous innovation and robust partnerships.

Why This Matters for Industry Stakeholders

For enterprise leaders, the implications of Overmind’s technology are profound. For more on [related cyber security developments](/palo-alto-networks-advances-cyber-security-platform-strategy-in-2026-09-02-2026). By addressing the security gaps in agentic AI, the company could accelerate adoption across industries where innovation has been stymied by risk aversion. Healthcare providers, for instance, could deploy AI-driven diagnostics with greater confidence in patient safety, while financial institutions could automate compliance workflows without fear of regulatory breaches.

Investors and venture capitalists should also take note of this emerging category. If Gartner’s prediction holds true, the market for agentic AI security solutions could expand rapidly as organizations prioritize safety and compliance. Overmind’s early-mover advantage and intelligence-grade approach position it as a compelling candidate for follow-on funding and strategic partnerships.

For policymakers and regulators, Overmind’s technology offers a potential blueprint for balancing innovation with oversight. By integrating security at the deployment layer, the company could help set new industry standards, ensuring that the benefits of agentic AI are realized responsibly.

Forward Outlook

Looking ahead, Overmind is poised for significant growth as it scales its platform across multiple industries. The company’s immediate focus on healthcare, legal, and fintech sectors appears well-aligned with market demand, given the stringent compliance requirements in these areas. If successful, this strategy could serve as a springboard for broader adoption in less-regulated industries.

However, competition is likely to intensify as the market for agentic AI security matures. Overmind will need to continuously innovate, leveraging its reinforcement learning capabilities to stay ahead. Strategic partnerships with enterprises and government agencies could further solidify its market position.

Overall, Overmind’s success will be a bellwether for the broader agentic AI ecosystem. By proving that advanced security measures can coexist with scalability, the company could pave the way for a new era of AI-driven innovation.

Key Takeaways

• Overmind secures £2M seed funding to address agentic AI security challenges.
• Led by ex-MI5 engineer, the startup focuses on real-time oversight for AI systems.
• Early deployment targets include healthcare, fintech, and legal industries.
• Gartner predicts 40% of agentic AI projects could stall by 2027 without safeguards.
• Investors like Osney Capital see significant growth potential in AI security solutions.

References

1. TechFundingNews
2. More Cyber Security Coverage
3. AI Industry Insights