Seattle-based application delivery and security specialist F5 has acquired Fletch, a San Francisco-based cybersecurity startup, to integrate agentic AI capabilities into its Application Delivery and Security Platform (ADSP). The move aims to deliver smarter, autonomous security across applications, APIs, and infrastructure.
Founded by Grant Wernick, Fletch’s core mission has been to simplify cybersecurity by transforming complex data and threat intelligence into actionable insights for security teams. With the acquisition, Fletch’s autonomous AI agents will be embedded into F5’s ADSP, enhancing its ability to provide real-time threat intelligence, proactive security recommendations, and explainable insights for enterprise and partner IT teams.
“Agentic AI represents AI that doesn’t just process data—it takes proactive action,” said Wernick. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, though F5 stated the acquisition would not materially impact its operating results.
Earlier this year, F5 launched ADSP by unifying its BIG-IP, NGINX, and distributed cloud services into a single, AI-native platform for complete application delivery and security. According to Kunal Anand, F5’s Chief Innovation Officer, the addition of Fletch’s technology will allow the company to stay ahead of threats with smarter, predictive security outcomes.
Of Fletch’s 15 employees, 13 have joined F5 as part of the deal, strengthening the company’s innovation capabilities in cybersecurity.