From teen hacker to Iron Dome researcher, this founder raised $28M to fight AI phishing

Shay Shwartz, a former teenage hacker who later worked on Israel’s Iron Dome project, has launched Ocean, an AI-driven email security platform designed to counter AI-powered phishing attacks. The startup emerged from stealth mode with $28 million in funding, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and supported by angel investors including Wiz co-founder Assaf Rappaport and Armis co-founders Yevgeny Dibrov and Nadir Izrael. Ocean’s technology focuses on detecting AI-generated phishing attempts, which are more automated and scalable than traditional attacks. Unlike existing solutions from companies like Proofpoint or Abnormal Security, Ocean uses a small language model tailored to analyze email context, sender intent, and organizational risks in real time. The platform already processes billions of emails monthly for customers including Kayak, Kingston Technology, and Headspace. Shwartz describes Ocean’s approach as creating a ‘guard at every door’ to maintain high inbox security. Shwartz spent a decade in cybersecurity roles, including work with Israel’s defense and intelligence units, before founding Ocean two years ago. His background in both offensive and defensive cybersecurity informs the startup’s mission to make email communication safer against AI-driven threats. Ocean’s funding round highlights growing investor interest in AI-driven cybersecurity solutions as phishing attacks become more sophisticated. The company’s focus on contextual analysis sets it apart in a crowded but evolving market.