This startup is building the trust layer for enterprise AI

This article is a part of Startup Spotlight, a series that features young, up-and-coming startups.

Image credit: Timmy Loen

After 25 years in enterprise transformation, the founder of Protum saw a repeating pattern. Companies would spend six-figure sums on governance reports that would ultimately gather dust in a drawer.

As AI agents began making critical decisions, he saw that static reports were no longer sufficient. This led to the creation of a platform designed to provide a continuously updated trust record for enterprise AI.

😟 Problem

While 88% of enterprises now use AI, only 6% report a measurable business impact. C-suite leaders struggle to prove their AI agents are safe, governed, or creating value.

This creates a cascade of issues for the chief information security officer who lacks a risk framework, leaving teams without clear risk frameworks, consistent trust reporting, or independent assurance.

💡 Solution

Protum provides an AI governance platform and operating model to solve this. The system is designed to give assurance to security, technology, and board-level stakeholders simultaneously. Its core features include:

• A 42-risk security framework that assesses AI agents, covering 14 risks not found in other frameworks.
• A six-capability maturity model to guide an enterprise’s AI transformation with a focus on return on investment.
• An “Agent Trust Record,” which serves as living proof that an AI is secure, updated via a continuous scanning engine integrated into the development lifecycle.

Image credit: Protum

📊 Market size

Gartner predicts that AI regulations will cover 75% of the world’s economies by 2030, creating a compliance-driven need for independent trust records.

While the AI governance market is estimated to reach US$3.6 billion by 2033, Protum also operates in the larger services market. For every dollar spent on AI software, enterprises currently spend six on related services like governance and compliance.

🤝 Team

• Sandeep J. Founder. He has 25 years of experience in enterprise transformation, leading over 30 engagements for Fortune 500 companies in Asia-Pacific.
• Fany Aji. Product transformation lead. She has over 14 years of experience building AI products and leading organizational transformation.

🚀 Traction

• The company is currently scoping its first productized assessments with enterprises in Singapore and the Gulf region.
• The startup’s intellectual property, including its risk matrix and maturity model, has been built and validated.
• Its framework was extracted from over 30 enterprise transformation engagements delivered by its parent company, Massivue.
• Its masterclass has served as a lead generation tool, attracting over 50 senior leaders from potential client organizations.

🏆 Competition

💰 Financials

🚩 Risks