Amit Assaraf (Koi)
Overview
Amit Assaraf is a renowned figure in the cybersecurity domain, particularly recognized for his role as the co-founder and CEO of Koi. Koi is a pioneering cybersecurity platform specializing in endpoint security. Amit Assaraf, alongside his co-founders Itay Kruk and Idan Dardikman, established Koi in 2024. The platform was born from a significant cybersecurity experiment that highlighted vulnerabilities in the Visual Studio Code Marketplace. This experiment laid the foundation for "ExtensionTotal," a tool designed to detect risky extensions which evolved into Koi's broader security platform. Koi focuses on providing enterprises with the capability to monitor and secure software across their organization, notably targeting the software that is often overlooked by traditional security tools.
Recent Developments
- September 2025: Koi announced significant funding by raising $48 million in seed and Series A rounds. The funding led by Battery Ventures and Team8 will help expand Koi’s capabilities in endpoint security.
- The funds will be used to scale operations, enhance product capabilities, and grow its customer base. Koi has effectively protected over 500,000 endpoints globally.
- April 2025: Amit Assaraf was recognized for his analysis of malware threats in Chrome Web Store extensions, sharing data on widespread issues affecting global users.
- 2024: Amit published multiple papers and articles exposing critical vulnerabilities in software marketplaces, including a blog series detailing cybersecurity risks in Visual Studio Code extensions.
Personal Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Amit Assaraf |
| Born | Not publicly available |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Occupation | CEO of Koi |
| Known For | Co-founding Koi, Cybersecurity leadership |
| Education | Alumni of IDF Unit 8200 |
Early Life and Education
Amit Assaraf is an alumnus of the Israel Defense Forces’ elite intelligence Unit 8200, a program known for producing some of the country’s top entrepreneurial minds in technology. His background in this prestigious unit provided him with profound insights into cybersecurity and intelligence, significantly shaping his future career trajectory. While details about his early life remain limited, his educational journey through the army's technology-focused programs laid the groundwork for his later achievements in the cybersecurity industry.
Career and Notable Achievements
Amit Assaraf's career began with his service in IDF’s Unit 8200, providing him with an excellent foundation in cybersecurity. His professional journey includes:
- Co-founding Koi in 2024: Alongside Itay Kruk and Idan Dardikman, Assaraf helped establish Koi, inspired by an experiment that revealed vulnerabilities in widely used software tools.
- Development of "ExtensionTotal": The creation of this tool to uncover risky software extensions was a key development under Assaraf’s leadership, solidifying Koi's reputation in the cybersecurity sector.
- Critically Acclaimed Publications: Authored various influential articles and research papers addressing security threats in software marketplaces.
- Securing Major Investment: Under his direction, Koi secured substantial investments to accelerate its growth and innovation in endpoint security.
Current Work and Impact
As the CEO of Koi, Amit Assaraf continues to drive innovation in endpoint security. Koi's platform delivers unprecedented control and oversight over enterprise software environments, addressing risks posed by unmanaged, self-installed software. The company’s innovative approach enables businesses to use new technologies like AI models and extensions while maintaining robust security. Koi’s platform, which has already safeguarded over 500,000 endpoints, is utilized by leading Fortune 50 enterprises, showcasing its importance and effectiveness in contemporary cybersecurity.
Conclusion
Amit Assaraf's contributions to cybersecurity, particularly through Koi, have had a profound impact on how enterprises approach endpoint security. His work addresses critical gaps in traditional cybersecurity, offering innovative solutions to new-age software risks. As the landscape of enterprise software continues to evolve, Assaraf's leadership at Koi positions him as a pivotal figure in the continued efforts to secure digital environments. His ongoing influence is set to leave a lasting legacy in the field of cybersecurity.