Catch Raises $5 Million for AI Executive Assistant With Guardrails
Catch, an AI executive assistant startup, has raised $5 million to enhance its agentic admin assistant, designed to handle sensitive executive tasks like scheduling and communications while prioritizing security and user control. The platform is built with multiple internal guardrails and emphasizes a human-in-the-loop approach to ensure executive oversight and data protection. It’s positioned as a more secure and cost-effective alternative to building custom AI agents.
Catch, an AI startup co-founded by Nir Sabato and Yoav Ramon, has raised $5 million to accelerate the development of its AI executive assistant, also called Catch. The platform is designed to assist executives with daily administrative tasks, including managing communications, scheduling meetings, and handling travel arrangements, mirroring the behavior of a trusted human assistant. A key differentiator is the emphasis on security and user control – executives explicitly define which assets Catch can access, and the system operates within those boundaries. Catch proactively checks for inconsistencies, such as a flight booked without a hotel reservation, and suggests booking a suitable hotel based on the executive’s preferences.
The platform utilizes a human-in-the-loop approach, similar to a human assistant asking, "You’re going to Memphis next week, should I book a room at this hotel for you?" This ensures executives remain informed and retain ultimate control over decisions. Catch leverages single sign-on for authentication and stores sensitive credentials in AWS Secrets Manager, employing AES-256 encryption both in transit and at rest. Continuous monitoring detects unusual activity and API usage.
Catch is positioned as a more secure and cost-effective solution compared to building custom AI agents, addressing the challenges of ensuring security and guardrails when developing complex AI systems. The company claims to offer an improved admin assistant at a fraction of the cost of a human assistant. The funding will be used to expand the team and further develop the platform’s capabilities.