Formal
YC S20San Francisco, US · Founded 2022 · 10 employees · 4 known investors
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Formal provides a proxy-based access control platform that enforces least privilege authentication and authorization across data infrastructure protocols including databases, APIs, and AI agents. The company serves security and infrastructure teams seeking to control access at the query level across multiple protocols.
Also known as Shipl Inc. · Maytana · MetaBank · Shipl · Shipl, MetaBank, Maytana
Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S20)
Formal was founded in 2022 by Mokhtar Bacha.

Investors · 4
How we know: Abstract Ventures's portfolio page · the company's own site · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: the company's own site · the Y Combinator directory · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: the company's own site · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us
Related companies · 4
Companies working in the same space as Formal.
Legal entities · 1
corporate structureIn the news
Frequently asked questions
- What does Formal do?
- Formal provides a proxy-based access control platform that enforces least privilege authentication and authorization across data infrastructure protocols including databases, APIs, and AI agents. The company serves security and infrastructure teams seeking to control access at the query level across multiple protocols.
- Who founded Formal?
- Formal was founded by Mokhtar Bacha in 2022.
- Who are Formal's investors?
- Formal's investors include Abstract Ventures, Y Combinator, Thrive Capital, ConsenSys Mesh.
- Where is Formal headquartered?
- Formal is headquartered in San Francisco, US.








