Cyberstarts is a Tel Aviv–based venture capital firm founded in 2018 by Gili Raanan with a singular focus: backing exceptional cybersecurity founders from the idea stage onward. Unlike generalist investors, Cyberstarts invests before there is a product, a team, or even code, supporting entrepreneurs with grit to solve pressing security challenges. Over seven years, the firm has become one of the most influential players in cybersecurity, with its portfolio representing nearly half of the global private cybersecurity market cap.
Cyberstarts invests exclusively in cybersecurity. It partners with founders from inception and applies a hands-on model that leverages its network of CISOs to pressure-test ideas and refine go-to-market strategies.
The firm supports startups across the full security spectrum, including cloud security, data protection, enterprise infrastructure, digital asset security, and AI-native security platforms.
In September 2025, Cyberstarts closed Opportunity Fund II at 380 million dollars. The vehicle is dedicated to supporting portfolio companies as they scale from early-stage startups to global growth businesses.
This follows the launch of a 300 million dollar Employee Liquidity Fund earlier in the year.
Together, Cyberstarts raised more than 700 million dollars in 2025, bringing its total capital commitments to over 1.4 billion dollars across seven funds.
Leadership
The firm is led by general partners Gili Raanan, Hila Zigman, Lior Simon, and Dor Knafo, with operating partners Adam Aarons and Pete Chronis. Chronis, who joined in 2025, brings decades of experience as a CISO at Paramount, WarnerMedia, Turner Broadcasting, and EarthLink, further strengthening Cyberstarts’ operator-led expertise.
Investment Strategy
Cyberstarts’ approach is founder-centric and conviction-driven. It invests at inception, supports companies through advisory input from its CISO network, and doubles down at critical inflection points with its opportunity funds.
The firm positions itself as a long-term partner capable of leading follow-on rounds, recruiting key executives, and mobilizing business development opportunities when founders need it most.
Notable Investments
Cyberstarts has backed many of the most valuable cybersecurity companies of the decade, including:
Notable Exits
Wiz’s pending acquisition by Google for 32 billion dollars is one of the largest software transactions in history. Cyberstarts has also seen successful acquisitions of:
Other
Cyberstarts stands out for its deep, authentic relationships with founders. Its network-driven model and operator-heavy leadership bench are designed to help startups secure talent, accelerate go-to-market, and scale globally. With more than 1.4 billion dollars raised to date and a proven track record, Cyberstarts has become one of the most powerful platforms for cybersecurity innovation worldwide.
