Layer Security
1 known investors
Layer Security is a Japanese cybersecurity startup building a security layer for humans and AI agents, offering guardrails that detect and control unauthorized AI use and monitor AI agent MCP connections, permissions, and execution. It also provides vulnerability assessments and security research focused on AI agent and MCP attack surfaces, targeting organizations in Japan.
Also known as Layer Security Inc. · 合同会社Totsuka Tech · 株式会社Layer Security
Investors · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Layer Security (株式会社Layer Security) is a Tokyo-based cybersecurity company that develops a governance platform for enterprise use of AI. Its stated positioning is a "security layer for humans and AI agents," built by engineers with an attacker's perspective who have found vulnerabilities in organizations in Japan and abroad. The company frames the security perimeter as shifting from networks and endpoints to the use, connection and execution of AI systems, and cites the Cabinet Secretariat's "Japan Growth Strategy" (July 2026) on shortages of cybersecurity talent and dependence on foreign technology as the backdrop for building domestic capability.
The product line comprises two guardrail offerings: Shadow AI Guardrails, which detects and controls unapproved AI use and the entry of confidential information into chat AI tools, and AI Agent Guardrails, which provides visibility and management over agent MCP connections, permissions and execution. Alongside the platform, the company runs a security research and services practice covering vulnerability assessment, AI agent/MCP security research, and research on defending against AI-enabled attacks, with findings fed back into the product. Registered business activities include development and provision of an AI governance management platform, systems for visualizing and controlling internal AI use, AI security consulting for enterprises, detection and blocking of unapproved AI services, and automated governance report generation.
The company describes its approach as starting from visibility rather than prohibition: even organizations that ban generative AI see employees use personal accounts, making use less visible to IT, so the platform steers staff toward company-approved AI and blocks specific risky actions such as entering personal data or sending information to unapproved AI services. It positions the offering as a Japan-made shadow AI countermeasure usable by companies without a dedicated information systems department, and as a way to answer customer or partner questions about AI management with documented controls and data.
Business model
The company sells an AI governance and shadow-AI control platform to enterprises, complemented by security research and professional services including vulnerability assessment and AI/MCP security research. Inbound engagement runs through document requests, demos, proofs of concept and consultation on vulnerability diagnostics.
Traction
The website cites approval under Anthropic's Cyber Verification Program (with a disclaimer that this does not indicate Anthropic certification or endorsement) and a first place ranking in IssueHunt's monthly ranking in Japan for May 2026, along with multiple vulnerability reports accepted and awards or hall-of-fame listings.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Positions itself as a domestically developed Japanese alternative in AI security, responding to what it describes as Japan's dependence on foreign cybersecurity technology and a shortage of security talent.
Emphasizes an attacker's-perspective engineering team with a record of vulnerability reports, acceptances and hall-of-fame recognitions, origins as a University of Tokyo-derived AI startup, and a Japan-built product for shadow AI control aimed at companies lacking dedicated security staff.
Technology
The platform provides guardrails at two layers: monitoring and control of chat AI usage to detect unapproved services and the input of confidential or personal information, and visibility and management of AI agents' MCP connections, permissions and execution. Development is informed by offensive security research into new attack surfaces created by AI agents and MCP.
Go-to-market
Direct inbound sales via the company website, offering material requests (sent within three days), product demos, consultations, vulnerability assessments and PoCs; an educational content program of explanatory articles and practical guides on shadow AI, generative-AI data leakage and internal AI usage policies supports demand generation.
Japanese enterprises managing employee use of generative AI and AI agents, including organizations without a dedicated in-house information systems function, and companies that must demonstrate AI governance controls to business partners.
Geography
Headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo (Shibuya Dogenzaka Tokyu Building 2F-C, 1-10-8 Dogenzaka), with a stated focus on the Japanese market.
History
The company states it was established on 2026-04-10, with a corporate number of 4011003024171 and capital of 17,700,000 yen including share options. Registration procedures were under way to convert and rename the entity from 合同会社Totsuka Tech to 株式会社Layer Security. Founders listed are Yusuke Takahashi (CEO and representative director), Shinya Yamanaka (COO) and Hari Hashimoto (CTO).
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 3
launches, deals, and filingsThe company reports a No.1 position in Japan in IssueHunt's monthly ranking for May 2026.
Establishment date given as 2026-04-10; registration procedures for the organizational change and renaming from 合同会社Totsuka Tech to 株式会社Layer Security were under way, with Yusuke Takahashi as representative director.
The company states approval under Anthropic's Cyber Verification Program, noting this does not indicate certification or endorsement of its products or services by Anthropic.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Layer Securitylayersecurity.jp · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Layer Security do?
- Tokyo-based security company building visibility and control tools for corporate AI use and AI agents.
- Who are Layer Security's investors?
- Layer Security's investors include Skyland Ventures.