In the fast-evolving landscape of software development, Kusari emerges as a promising player, raising $8 million in recent funding rounds from investors including J2 Ventures, Glasswing Ventures, and Unusual Ventures. The startup, named after the Japanese feudal weapon kusari-fundo, aims to address the growing concerns surrounding software supply chain security.
Challenges in the Software Supply Chain
Recent surveys indicate that 88% of companies view software supply chain security as an “enterprise-wide risk,” with 65% expressing dissatisfaction with the maturity of their security programs. Supply chain breaches have risen to an average of four incidents per company in 2023, marking a 25% increase from the previous year.
Kusari’s Unique Approach
While established vendors work on supply chain security, Kusari distinguishes itself with a team boasting experience from the financial services and defense industries. Co-founder and CEO Tim Miller, formerly an engineering director at Citi, emphasizes the lack of education in software supply chain management and aims to address this gap.
Kusari’s software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, currently in development with the newly acquired funding, acts as a “GPS for navigating supply chain issues.” Miller envisions it as a tool that helps chief information security officers understand and address software risks while aiding DevOps in automatic issue resolution.
Open Source Innovation
Kusari stands out with its open source plus SaaS business model, leveraging the Guac open source project, to which the founders contributed. The platform uses Guac to identify the most-used components in a software supply chain, pinpoint exposures to risky dependencies, and determine ownership and policy compliance.
Competitive Landscape and Future Plans
Kusari acknowledges competitors like Legit Security, Ox Security, and Snyk but emphasizes its unique open source approach. The startup plans to release its SaaS product later this year, focusing on reducing the cost of dealing with software vulnerabilities while increasing confidence in the process.
Future capabilities include a ChatGPT-like chatbot that users can interact with to inspect and understand an organization’s supply chain better. Despite potential challenges in the current business landscape, Kusari remains optimistic, focusing on efficient scaling and leveraging the latest technology built on open source principles. The platform is set to launch later this year with general availability targeted for the same period.
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