Bengaluru-based cybersecurity company CloudSEK has launched a 12-week incubation programme for early-stage cybersecurity startups and introduced an AI gateway designed to secure interactions between applications, AI agents and third-party AI models.

The startup programme, CloudSEK Launchpad, will select 10 companies for its first cohort. Selected startups will be eligible for up to $5,000 in AI model credits and receive access to CloudSEK’s threat intelligence resources, mentorship, enterprise networks and potential investors, according to the company. Applications are open until November 20, 2026.

The initiative comes as businesses expand their use of generative AI and autonomous agents, raising concerns around data exposure, credential management, prompt injection and the cost of running AI applications. For early-stage cybersecurity companies, access to enterprise customers and real-world security data can also be a barrier to developing and commercialising products.

CloudSEK’s second launch, KeyVigil, is designed to address some of these risks by providing a centralised gateway for applications and AI agents accessing multiple AI models. The company says the platform can manage API credentials, detect and mask sensitive information, flag prompt-injection and jailbreak attempts, log model interactions and set usage limits.

KeyVigil also allows developers to access multiple AI models through a single endpoint, potentially reducing the need to modify application code when switching providers. The platform is available to enterprise customers, while startups selected for Launchpad will receive credits to use the service.

CloudSEK said KeyVigil was developed by the team behind its AIVigil platform, which focuses on identifying exposed AI assets and attack surfaces.

The new product is intended to extend those capabilities to interactions between applications, AI agents and AI models. Launchpad will focus on pre-seed and seed-stage cybersecurity companies, although founders at the idea stage can also apply if they have a strong team and a clearly defined security problem. Areas of interest include AI security, automated security operations, threat intelligence, digital risk management, identity security, fraud prevention and software supply-chain security.

The 12-week programme will include mentorship from CloudSEK executives, access to its cybersecurity research and introductions to potential customers and channel partners in India, the Gulf Cooperation Council region and the United States. Participating startups will also have an opportunity to present their products to investors and potential customers at a concluding demo day. Rahul Sasi, founder and chief executive officer of CloudSEK, said the programme was intended to help cybersecurity founders navigate challenges such as customer acquisition, product positioning and access to industry expertise.“AI has made it significantly easier to build sophisticated technology, but building a successful cybersecurity company still requires access to real threat intelligence, trusted customers and the right industry network,” Sasi said.

The company said it wants to help participating startups move from product development to acquiring their first paying customers. However, it has not disclosed the overall investment allocated to Launchpad, the selection criteria beyond its stated areas of interest or the commercial terms governing access to its enterprise network.