Story of Abnormal Security: Founder and CEO - Evan Reiser

Story of Abnormal Security: Founder and CEO - Evan Reiser

Story of Abnormal Security:

A New Approach to Email Security
In 2018, Evan Reiser co-founded Abnormal Security, now known as Abnormal AI, alongside Sanjay Jeyakumar. Their vision was to address a growing cybersecurity challenge: the rise of sophisticated phishing and social engineering attacks that traditional tools struggled to stop. Using behavioral analysis and machine learning, the company built a system that could understand relationships and communication patterns within email networks, catching threats that others missed.

From Traditional Gateways to AI-Driven Defense
Unlike secure email gateways that rely heavily on static rules, Abnormal’s platform introduced Abnormal Behavior Technology (ABX). This advanced model learns how people within an organization typically communicate and quickly detects unusual patterns that may signal an attack. The API-based solution could be deployed in under a minute, making it far more efficient and scalable for enterprises.

Explosive Growth and Market Adoption
The market quickly responded. Within just five years, Abnormal experienced a 615% growth in search interest, demonstrating the urgent demand for next-generation email protection. With more than 218,000 monthly visitors, the company became one of the fastest-growing players in enterprise cybersecurity, securing large organizations against financial fraud and account takeovers.

The Mind Behind the Mission
At the heart of Abnormal AI is Evan Reiser, who serves as CEO. His career has consistently revolved around applied machine learning and behavioral profiling. Before launching Abnormal, Evan led product management and machine learning efforts at Twitter, overseeing its $2 billion advertising engine. His expertise in understanding human behavior through data became the backbone of Abnormal’s innovative approach.

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Previous Entrepreneurial Success
Evan was no stranger to startups before Abnormal. He had already co-founded Bloomspot, a consumer analytics company acquired by JPMorgan Chase, and AdStack, an email marketing optimization startup acquired by TellApart. These ventures gave him firsthand experience in building scalable enterprise SaaS products, setting the stage for his biggest project yet.

A Platform for the Age of AI Cybercrime
As cyberattacks became more personalized and AI-driven, Abnormal AI positioned itself as a defender capable of staying one step ahead. By detecting behavioral anomalies, the platform could prevent insider threats and highly targeted phishing attempts, reducing risk for enterprises while lowering operational costs. In an era where AI is used by both attackers and defenders, Abnormal’s technology offered a critical line of defense.

Strong Backing and Growth
Investors quickly recognized the potential. Abnormal raised $284 million in funding through its Series C round, giving it the resources to expand globally and strengthen its platform. With headquarters in San Francisco and growing international adoption, the company continues to scale rapidly, competing with some of the largest cybersecurity players.

Looking Ahead
Evan Reiser’s mission with Abnormal AI is clear: to provide “superhuman detection” that protects organizations from the evolving landscape of cyber threats. Guided by core values like velocity, ownership, and customer obsession, Abnormal is not only redefining email security but also paving the way for AI-powered defense systems that can adapt as quickly as cybercriminals innovate.

Timeline of Abnormal AI’s Journey

• 2018: Founded in San Francisco by Evan Reiser and Sanjay Jeyakumar.
• 2018–2019: Developed Abnormal Behavior Technology (ABX) and launched API-based deployment.
• 2019–2020: Secured first enterprise clients; positioned against traditional secure email gateways.
• 2021: Gained significant traction as phishing and social engineering attacks surged.
• 2022: Rebranded as Abnormal AI to reflect broader AI-powered security vision.
• 2023: Raised $284M (Series C), expanding operations and R&D.
• 2024–2025: Achieved 615% search growth and over 218,000 monthly visitors, becoming a leader in AI-driven email security.
• Future: Aims to expand beyond email into broader enterprise AI security solutions.

 Story of Abnormal Security: Founder and CEO - Evan Reiser#startup#age#net worth#investor#AI#AI Startup#entrepreneur#Abnormal Security story#Evan Reise