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Certora

Category: AI in Cybersecurity

Certora provides formal verification tools and smart contract audits to ensure security in blockchain systems, with a recent focus on AI-driven coding platforms for safe smart contract development. Certora was founded in 2018. The company is led by Mooly Sagiv. Based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Team size: 82. Total funding raised: $43.5 million ($7.2M Series A + $36M Series B + ~$0.3M Canton Foundation grant; plus Ethereum Foundation zkEVM grant). Latest round: Grant. Key investors include Jump Crypto (led $36M Series B), Electric Capital (led $7.2M Series A), Canton Foundation (Grant, May 2026), Ethereum Foundation (zkEVM research grant, Feb 2026).

Founded
2018
Headquarters
Tel Aviv, Israel
Team size
82
Total funding
$43.5 million ($7.2M Series A + $36M Series B + ~$0.3M Canton Foundation grant; plus Ethereum Foundation zkEVM grant)

Value proposition

Enterprise-grade formal verification platform for smart contracts and blockchain security, preventing bugs and vulnerabilities through mathematical proofs. Proven track record securing DeFi protocols including SushiSwap, Aave, Compound, Balancer, and Stellar/Soroban.

Products and solutions

Certora Prover - formal verification tool for smart contracts (EVM, Solana, Stellar, Sui), Gambit - security analysis / mutation testing tool, Smart Contract Audit Services, AI Composer - AI-driven coding platform for safe smart contract development, AutoProver - agentic AI formal verification (spec generation + proofs; launched Jul 2026), Sunbeam - Soroban/Stellar security analysis, Modular formal verification solutions, DeFi protocol security tools

Unique value

Pioneered Automatic Exact Verification (AEV) technology and integrates AI with formal methods to enhance smart contract security.

Target customer

Blockchain developers, Web3 protocols, and enterprises deploying smart contracts on EVM-based chains, Solana, and Stellar.

Industries served

Blockchain/Web3, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Enterprise Blockchain Solutions, Smart Contract Development

Technology advantage

Founded by world-leading formal verification researcher (Mooly Sagiv - ACM Fellow). Mathematical proof-based security vs. traditional testing. Proven bug prevention in major DeFi protocols ($billions secured). Enterprise-grade assurance methodology from aeronautics/finance applied to blockchain.

How they differentiate

Academic rigor + proven DeFi track record (Aave, Compound, Balancer, SushiSwap). Formal verification (mathematical proofs) vs. traditional audits. Founded by ACM Fellow and formal methods pioneer. Strong investor backing (Jump Crypto, Electric Capital).

Main competitors

CertiK, Runtime Verification, Veridise

Key partnerships

Cork (Web3 security partnership), Hypernative (Web3 security partnership), Stellar (Soroban smart contract security), SushiSwap (security verification), Aave (protocol security; Aave V4 formal verification completed Jul 2026), Compound (protocol security), Balancer (protocol security), Sui Foundation (ecosystem security partnership, Feb 2026), Ethereum Foundation (zkEVM research grant, Feb 2026), Solana Foundation Delegation Program (validator, Dec 2025), Powdr Labs (zkEVM / autoprecompile FV collaboration), Canton Foundation (Daml static analysis grant, May 2026)

Notable customers

SushiSwap (prevented Trident pool bugs), Aave (incl. Aave V4 formal verification), Compound (DeFi protocol), Balancer (DeFi protocol), Stellar/Soroban (smart contracts), Lido (liquid staking), Uniswap (DEX), EigenLayer, Morpho, Veda (vault FV), 1inch (cross-chain swaps security)

Major milestones

2018: Founded by Mooly Sagiv (ACM Fellow) and Shelly Grossman in Tel Aviv, Raised $7.2M Series A led by Electric Capital, Raised $36M Series B led by Jump Crypto (total $43.2M equity), Prevented critical bugs in SushiSwap Trident liquidity pool, Secured major DeFi protocols: Aave, Compound, Balancer, Lido, Uniswap, EigenLayer, Partnership with Stellar for Soroban smart contract security, Jul 2025: Seth Hallem appointed CEO (Mooly to strategic research), 2025: Partnerships with Cork and Hypernative for Web3 security standards, Nov 2025: Launched AI Composer for AI-driven safe smart contract development, Dec 2025: Joined Solana Foundation Delegation Program as validator, Feb 2026: Ethereum Foundation zkEVM formal verification grant; Sui Foundation partnership, May 2026: Canton Foundation ~$300K grant for Daml static analysis

Growth metrics

Secured $196.5B in DeFi TVL in 2025, preventing 720+ vulnerabilities. Clients include Lido, Aave, Uniswap, Compound, Balancer, SushiSwap, Stellar. $43.2M raised + Ethereum Foundation grant. Offices in Tel Aviv, Seattle, Berlin. Security research team quadrupled in 2025.

Market positioning

Leading formal verification provider for blockchain security with proven track record securing billions in DeFi protocols

Geographic focus

Global, with partnerships and clients in North America, Europe, and Asia, including major DeFi projects like Lido and Aave.

Patents and IP

No specific patents listed in public records; core innovations are protected through proprietary technology and trade secrets.

About Mooly Sagiv

Founding CEO (2018–2025) who returned as CEO in mid-2026 after Seth Hallem's departure. Leading formal verification researcher; ACM Fellow; Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award; Microsoft Research Outstanding Collaborator; member of European Academy of Science; chair of software systems at Tel Aviv University.

Latest news about Certora

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Official website:

Certora - AI Startup Profile | AI Market Watch