Social engineering has become one of the most rapidly growing threats in cybersecurity — not through code, but through conversation. Instead of exploiting software vulnerabilities, cybercriminals increasingly target human-powered systems such as help desks and service desks, costing enterprises hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
To address this growing challenge, Humanix, a company focused on safeguarding the human layer from social engineering attacks, has announced it has raised $18 million in combined Seed and Series A funding. The latest round was led by Acrew Capital, while BoldStart Ventures headed the Seed investment. Humanix’s technology is already protecting leading organizations in industries like finance and hospitality, underscoring the urgent need for real-time defense against people-focused attacks.
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“The easiest way to compromise a company is simply to ask politely,” said Keith Stewart, CEO and founder of Humanix. “Attackers often call the help desk, impersonate an employee in a rush, and gain access to sensitive data. It’s a low-tech method, but extremely effective—and AI is only making these deceptions more convincing. Humanix detects and stops these attacks in real time—whether over phone, chat, or ticketing systems—ensuring that interactions remain trustworthy, employees stay safe, and operations continue seamlessly. Our mission is to protect people, not punish them, by empowering every employee to become a secure part of the organization rather than a weak link.”
The Growing Cost of Human-Centric Attacks
Losses from social engineering incidents now run into hundreds of millions of dollars. Breaches targeting help desks alone are estimated to exceed $100 million annually, with liability risks expanding to technology vendors and service providers. These attacks exploit fundamental human traits such as trust, empathy, and urgency—qualities that traditional training and scripts manage to stop in less than 2% of cases.
Humanix bridges this protection gap through a unique blend of human intelligence and AI-driven natural language analysis. Its system identifies manipulation attempts in real time across help desks, service centers, and other communication channels. This empowers enterprises to:
- Safeguard customer trust by verifying that all interactions are authentic and secure.
- Streamline communication by reducing unnecessary friction or complex verification steps for users.
- Minimize fraud and liability by limiting financial losses and reducing exposure for both enterprises and their technology partners.
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How the Humanix Platform Works
The Humanix solution functions through a three-stage process:
- Detection: Advanced AI models rooted in behavioral science analyze live interactions to spot manipulation tactics and potential policy violations.
- Intervention: Automated real-time guidance helps employees respond correctly and mitigate the threat during the interaction.
- Assurance: The system logs compliance and response details, ensuring organizations can demonstrate adherence to proper procedures while reducing liability risks.
Backing from Leading Investors
According to Asad Khaliq of Acrew Capital, “We invested in Humanix because people are the final frontier of cybersecurity. Their platform gives companies immediate visibility and control over the real attacks they face—not just theoretical scenarios.”
Ed Sim of BoldStart Ventures added, “From day one, Humanix proved that the so-called unprotectable—the human layer—can, in fact, be defended. Their technology is redefining cybersecurity by transforming people from vulnerabilities into the first line of defense.”
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