Iguana Cyber Is First to Block Unknown AI Cyber Threats

Iguana Cyber, a Charlotte-based cybersecurity startup founded in 2024, is redefining how businesses defend against modern AI-powered cyber threats. CEO Parker Garrison launched the company with a clear mission: to solve a critical gap in existing security tools, which fail to stop highly skilled attackers.

Drawing on his experience, Garrison led the development of a breakthrough solution designed to block cyber exploits the moment they first appear, known as zero-day threats. This innovation targets a major global challenge, as cybercrime, particularly attacks exploiting vulnerabilities, is estimated to cost businesses $10.5 trillion annually.

Founder Expertise and Early Momentum

Before founding Iguana Cyber, Garrison contributed to widely adopted cybersecurity frameworks at MITRE, including D3FEND and CWE. He has also built a strong reputation in competitive cybersecurity, consistently placing first in national contests and placing 1st in the cyber competition at the 40,000-person RSA Conference three years in a row, and has shared his knowledge through talks and workshops at major venues including DerbyCon and RSA.

The company is already gaining recognition. Last week, Iguana Cyber advanced to the Elite 8 in NC Tweener Madness, a statewide competition featuring startups with under $80 million in revenue.

A New Model for Threat Detection

What sets Iguana Cyber apart is its fundamentally different approach to threat detection. All other security systems rely on identifying patterns based on previously known “good” and “bad” behavior, while missing new, unfamiliar threats. Iguana Cyber, by contrast, uses a consensus model that runs across two distinct servers: one operating on Windows and the other on Linux. Because exploit code designed for one operating system is ineffective on the other, any mismatch in system responses signals a potential attack. The system immediately blocks the threat and raises an alert, before any damage can occur.

Funding Growth and Strategic Support

On the funding front, Iguana Cyber began raising its pre-seed round in mid-November 2025, securing $60,000 by year-end in what is typically the slowest fundraising period. The company has since reached $200,000 toward its $750,000 goal, with growing investor interest and an anticipated close by mid-April. This early support comes from investors who believe strongly in both the founder and the company’s minimum viable product.

The company has also benefited from support within North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. After presenting at Raleigh-Durham Startup Week, Iguana Cyber quickly connected with the NC Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) in Chapel Hill. Through this partnership, the team gained valuable introductions to investors and opportunities to participate in key pitch events, accelerating their growth.

Reflecting on the fundraising journey, Garrison notes that even with deep industry experience and connections, developing a compelling, non-technical investor pitch took time. Although it’s since paid off, he suggests that first-time founders should strongly consider bootstrapping, especially if they already have a strong customer-focused pitch.

Another key takeaway has been the importance of leveraging personal networks. Much of Iguana Cyber’s funding has come from within the founder’s own connections, including from members of a professional group that he led and a former mathematics professor. Additionally, having committed advisors has proven invaluable. One advisor not only invested in the company but also opened doors to dozens of Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs), ultimately connecting Iguana Cyber to major software resellers who are expected to become key distribution partners.

What’s Next for Iguana Cyber

In the near future, Iguana Cyber plans to hire a full-time Chief Operating Officer, with several strong candidates whom the founder has experience with already identified. The company is also continuing to refine its product, with a focus on improving the user experience. In the coming months, development work will decrease the product’s onboarding time dramatically, from approximately 20 minutes to just 2 minutes per server group, making deployment faster and more seamless for customers.

With its innovative technology and growing momentum, Iguana Cyber is positioning itself to define the next generation of cybersecurity.