The Team Behind AIVault
World-class researchers and engineers with deep expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and defense.
Built by Innovators. Validated by the Highest Federal Standard.
AIVault was founded with a singular mission: make enterprise-grade AI security accessible to every managed service provider. Our platform has been validated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the gold standard for cybersecurity frameworks in the United States — a distinction shared by only a handful of early-stage security companies.
Our team brings together over $75M in combined research experience, military veterans from elite cyber units, and pioneering engineers who built some of the world's first production agentic AI security systems. We don't just follow best practices — we help define them.
Backed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology
In combined team research and development investment
Filed across AI threat detection and autonomous response
AIVault has received direct funding and validation from the National Institute of Standards and Technology — the federal body responsible for cybersecurity standards including NIST CSF 2.0 and NIST SP 800-53. This recognition places AIVault among an elite group of security platforms trusted at the highest levels of government and industry.
The Team Behind AIVault
World-class researchers and engineers with deep expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and defense.
Dr. Andrew Mahyari
Founder & CEO
Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, M.Sc. in Statistics from Michigan State University, and MBA from the University of Central Florida. Previously at ABB Robotics R&D Center in Silicon Valley. Inventor of 8 U.S. patents and contributed to over $75M in DoD-funded research.
Dr. Mehrdad Mahdavi
CTO
Dorothy Quiggle Career Development Associate Professor of Computer Science & Engineering at Penn State and Associate Director of the Center for AI Foundations and Engineered Systems (CAFÉ). Recipient of the prestigious NSF CAREER Award.
Nathan Blackthorn
Research Scientist
PhD candidate in Computer Science at Georgia Institute of Technology. Served in the United States Army for 17 years, bringing a unique blend of operational and academic expertise.
Dr. Arash Raftari
Research Scientist
PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Central Florida. Holds a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from Sharif University of Technology.