Ahmed Achchak (Qevlar AI) & Réza Malekzadeh (Partech): When AI attacks, can AI defend?

AI is giving attackers cheaper, faster ways to target organisations at scale. On the defensive side, security teams are starting to replace rigid playbooks with AI systems that can investigate incidents, adapt to new attack paths and support faster response.In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm speaks with Ahmed Achchak, Co-founder and CEO of Qevlar AI, and Réza Malekzadeh, General Partner at Partech, an investor in Qevlar AI.They discuss how Ahmed and his co-founder approached cybersecurity without coming from traditional security backgrounds, why that outsider perspective helped them rethink static playbooks and how Qevlar AI is moving security teams beyond manual triage.The conversation also covers why organisations should assume breach, how automated remediation can be governed without turning the system into a black box, how young startups earn trust with major enterprise customers, Europe’s cybersecurity opportunity and why founders need to build security into their products from day one.HighlightsHow AI is reshaping cyberattacks and cyber defenceWhy static security playbooks are falling behindHow an outsider perspective shaped Qevlar AIHow Qevlar AI investigates and responds to incidentsWhy organisations should assume breachHow startups build trust with enterprise customersEurope’s opportunity to build global cybersecurity leadersWhy security must be built in from day one---Learn more about the Love Tomorrow Summit and the programmes EUVC is curating, and secure your tickets here.---Timestamps(02:00) Introduction to Qevlar AI and Partech(03:00) How AI is changing cybersecurity(05:00) From cloud security to the AI shift(07:20) Why small businesses are increasingly exposed(09:00) Building Qevlar AI without a traditional security background(12:00) Why outsider founders can rethink established industries(14:20) How Qevlar AI investigates cyber incidents(18:30) Why organisations should assume breach(21:30) Governing AI-driven security decisions(26:00) Winning trust with enterprise customers(30:30) Europe’s cybersecurity advantage(34:00) Why European companies still need to think globally(37:00) Qevlar AI’s long-term vision(39:00) Why Partech backed the team(40:30) Why security can no longer be an afterthought(43:00) Closing thoughts