Circle.ai

What Circle.ai does

Circle.ai, doing business as Circle Security, is a private Oakland, California-based cybersecurity company that has built and markets a single core product, Circle Access. Circle Access is positioned as a credential-free authentication platform that eliminates passwords and secrets at the protocol level rather than layering additional authentication factors on top, delivering what the company describes as invisible, unbreachable zero-trust access. The technology is targeted at the underlying network or protocol layer, distinguishing its architectural approach from password- or secret-based identity systems used by incumbent IAM and zero-trust vendors.

The company targets two named verticals: Enterprise (primary) and Government, with use cases centered on removing password-related breach risk, reducing secret management overhead, and simplifying authentication for both end users and IT operations. Its go-to-market combines enterprise field sales, a Partner Portal for channel and reseller distribution, and self-serve Circle Access downloads, indicating a hybrid direct/channel motion with an emerging product-led overlay. A dedicated Developers page and a Cyber Safe Cities initiative suggest additional ecosystem and public-sector outreach.

The revenue model is B2B subscription, branded as Circle Access Subscription, with pricing not publicly disclosed and described as quote-based, consistent with enterprise and government contract structures. The company is privately held, employs 11–50 people, has no disclosed funding rounds, named customers, management team, partnerships, M&A activity, or revenue figures in the available input, which materially limits visibility into commercial traction and capital structure.

Name

Circle.ai

Website

https://gocircle.ai

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Circle.ai (Circle Security) is a private Oakland-based cybersecurity vendor selling Circle Access, a subscription credential-free authentication platform that eliminates passwords at the protocol level for enterprise and government organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Identity and Access Management

NAICS

Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Asset Custody & Wallet Infrastructure for Institutions (MPC/HSM, key mgmt, policy controls) (FSAPAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Smart Lock Software Platforms & Mobile Apps (Access Control SaaS) (HSAHAEAG)

Keywords

• Zero-trust authentication
• Credential-free security
• Passwordless authentication
• Identity access management
• Enterprise security platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Circle Access Subscription: B2B subscription-based authentication solution targeting enterprise and government organizations with credential-free zero-trust access capabilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Circle.ai sells Circle Access, a credential-free authentication platform that eliminates passwords and secrets at the protocol level. It delivers invisible, zero-trust access for enterprise and government organizations, replacing conventional credential-based authentication with protocol-layer enforcement. The product is offered via subscription, distributed through direct enterprise sales, a partner portal, and self-serve downloads.

Product overview

Circle Security offers Circle Access as a single unified core product providing credential-free authentication that eliminates passwords and secrets at the protocol level. The product enables invisible, unbreachable zero-trust access for enterprise and government organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Circle Access: Credential-free authentication product that eliminates passwords and secrets at the protocol level, providing invisible, unbreachable zero-trust access.

Products and services

• Circle Access Credential-free authentication platform that eliminates passwords and secrets at the protocol level, providing invisible, unbreachable zero-trust access for enterprise and government organizations.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Transmit Security: Transmit Security offers a passwordless authentication and identity platform for enterprises and financial institutions — overlapping the same customer pain points Circle Access targets.
• Cloudflare: Cloudflare Access delivers zero-trust network access replacing legacy VPNs with identity-based access controls — directly analogous to Circle Access's zero-trust, credential-free positioning for enterprise users.
• HYPR: HYPR is a passwordless authentication specialist focused on eliminating passwords for enterprise workforce and customer use cases — a direct competitor to Circle Access's core value proposition.
• Beyond Identity: Beyond Identity provides passwordless, phishing-resistant authentication for the enterprise — closely aligned with Circle Access's protocol-level, credential-free approach to enterprise authentication.

Broad incumbents

• Okta: Okta is the leading cloud identity platform, with passwordless and zero-trust offerings as part of a broader IAM suite. Highly comparable customer base (enterprise and government) and overlapping product surface.
• Microsoft (Entra ID): Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) is the dominant enterprise identity platform with native passwordless options (Windows Hello, FIDO2, Authenticator). Represents both the incumbent threat and a potential integration path.
• Duo Security (Cisco): Cisco Duo is a leading multi-factor authentication and zero-trust access platform — comparable buyer segment and adjacent authentication surface, with the scale of Cisco behind it.
• Auth0 (Okta): Auth0 provides authentication and identity-as-a-service for application developers — overlapping Circle Access's developer-relations motion and enterprise SSO use cases.
• Ivanti: Ivanti offers unified endpoint management and zero-trust access solutions to enterprise and government customers — comparable buyer base and adjacent zero-trust authentication capabilities.

Emerging players

• 1Password: 1Password has expanded from password management into enterprise SSO and passwordless identity — adjacent category overlap and a similar enterprise buyer, though rooted in consumer/password-vault DNA.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Circle.ai