As AI adoption accelerates across workplaces, New Delhi-based startup NexusNest is addressing a growing concern around data privacy by introducing a platform that masks sensitive information before it reaches AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, and Cursor.
Launched in early 2026, NexusNest was built for the DPDP era and is available on both Mac and Windows. Within months of its launch, the company secured ISO 27001:2022 and ISO 9001:2015 certifications.
The startup was founded by Hiresh Verma, a software engineer with over 5 years of experience building AI products and cloud infrastructure across 6 companies. His work included integrations with OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and LLaMA, along with managing the security, cloud, and compliance systems behind them.
Currently operating as a solo founder, Verma continues to build every aspect of NexusNest himself, including the backend, dashboards, and desktop agent.
The idea for NexusNest emerged from a personal realization while using ChatGPT for a simple message. Reflecting on the growing amount of personal and business information being shared with AI tools, Verma identified a gap in the market for a solution that protects privacy without limiting productivity.
“You can’t ban AI, the productivity is too real. And you can’t let it leak everything, the liability is too real. We’ve all started pasting our whole lives into these models without thinking: salaries, source code, client contracts, medical reports, entire customer lists. And it’s irreversible. You can’t un-send a prompt. Privacy didn’t die in some big breach, we’re giving it away ourselves, one prompt at a time. That’s the design flaw nobody has solved. And once you see it, you can’t unsee it,” he shares in an exclusive interview.
Verma incorporated NexusNest Technologies Private Limited in India and bootstrapped the company entirely through personal savings. He spent 4–5 months building the platform during evenings and weekends while working full-time before leaving his job to focus on the venture.
Unlike traditional security tools that either block AI access or monitor activity after exposure occurs, NexusNest acts as a dedicated privacy layer for AI. A lightweight desktop agent intercepts AI requests and masks sensitive information, including names, IDs, financial details, and secrets, before prompts are sent to AI providers.
The company says the masking process is one-way and irreversible, with original data never stored. At the same time, administrators gain visibility into potential data exposures, including who shared information and which AI tool was used.
Within months of launch, NexusNest expanded support across major AI platforms, achieved EGAC-accredited ISO certifications, and began deployments across companies. The platform was designed from day 1 to support DPDP Act, GDPR, and SOC 2 compliance requirements.
“You can’t make people stop using AI. So I’m making AI safe to use instead,” Hiresh Verma concludes.
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