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Insights / Blog

Startup Trends: 4 cybersecurity firms attracting investor interest

By Chris Cannon
Unicorns & Startup News

As cyber threats change over time, specialized cybersecurity companies are meeting new demands and capturing the attention of major investors.

These threats have become increasingly sophisticated, with hackers targeting critical infrastructure, exploiting artificial intelligence (AI) and playing into geopolitical tensions.1 As a result, cybersecurity companies may continue to shift from traditional to specialized solutions tailored to specific vulnerabilities.

These four companies are taking part in the transformation and attracting investor attention as they address the unique challenges of modern cyber threats.

Netskope, AI-driven cloud security

Netskope is a private company addressing the need to secure data across environments through its AI-enhanced Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) solutions, which are part of the Netskope One platform. The company’s advancements offer full visibility and control over data while protecting against unauthorized access and potential breaches.

With a possible IPO on the horizon for Netskope in 2025, demand for its solutions may continue to increase as companies modernize their technology infrastructure for cloud-based work and generative AI integrations. The company announced in July 2024 that it was named a leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for SASE (Secure Access Service Edge), a market research report that evaluates technology products addressing SASE architecture needs for cloud and AI use cases.2

Founded in 2012, Netskope’s Forge Price™ is $11.00 and implies a $7.5 billion valuation as of May 22, 2025. Investors include venture capital firms Accel, Base Partners, Geodesic Capital, and Lightspeed Venture Partners.

Dragos, security for industrial operational technology

Dragos is a private cybersecurity company that specializes in protecting critical operational technology systems through platforms that provide asset visibility, threat detection and incident response. The Hanover, Maryland-based company has attracted investor interest due to the specialized nature of its solutions, which are specific to the industrial sector.

Dragos was named to the Gartner Magic Quadrant in February 2025 for CPS (cyber-physical systems) protection platforms, which include engineered systems that interact with physical processes.3 In January 2025, Dragos announced a partnership with Yokogawa Electric, a Tokyo based industrial automation firm. The partnership aims to enhance cybersecurity across industrial environments by integrating its OT cybersecurity platform with Yokogawa's industrial automation solutions.4

Founded in 2016, Dragos’ Forge Price™ is $15.50 and implies a $1.69 billion valuation as of May 22, 2025. Investors include venture capital firms Koch Disruptive Technologies and BlackRock, along with technology enterprise Hewlett-Packard.

Tanium, real-time endpoint management

Tanium is a startup that addresses challenges related to remote work and distributed networks through its cybersecurity tools that enable organizations to detect vulnerabilities and respond to incidents quickly.

In November 2024, Tanium announced the release of its Autonomous Endpoint Management (AEM) platform, which uses AI to provide up-to-the-minute visibility and control over endpoints.5 The AEM platform addresses challenges cybersecurity teams face related to budgetary constraints that can be solved by automating repetitive tasks related to addressing security risks for companies with varying network locations.

Founded in 2007, the private company’s Forge Price™ is $5.40 and implies a $8.93 billion valuation as of May 22, 2025. Investors include venture capital firms Andreesen Horowitz, TPG Capital and Salesforce Ventures, the venture capital arm of Salesforce.

Vectra AI, hybrid cyber-attack detection

Vectra AI is a cybersecurity startup offering technology platforms that use machine learning to identify and respond to threats in real-time and across cloud services.

The April 2025 expansion of Vectra AI’s agentic AI portfolio offerings builds on efforts the company started in 2018.6 The tools have similar decision-making capabilities to human security analysts, and they can increase security team productivity by detecting, investigating, and recommending high-priority responses to threats.

Founded in 2010, Vectra’s Forge Price™ is $5.32 and implies a $1.21 billion valuation as of May 22, 2025. Investors include venture capital firms Blackstone Growth, Accel and AME Ventures.

1 Associated Press, 4/21/25

2 PR Newswire, 7/9/24

3 Yahoo Finance, 2/18/25

4 Dragos, 1/16/25

5 SiliconAngle, 11/19/24

6 Vectra, 4/29/25

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Netskope
$11.00-$2.37 (-17.73%)
LFR Post-Money Valuation
$7.5B
Tanium
$5.40+$0.03 (0.56%)
LFR Post-Money Valuation
$8.93B
Vectra AI
$5.32-$0.05 (-0.93%)
LFR Post-Money Valuation
$1.21B
About the Author

Chris Cannon develops lifecycle programs that engage Forge’s existing client base. Prior to joining Forge, he led audience engagement programs and newsletter operations at Investopedia, the global financial and investing media company. Chris received his MBA from East Carolina University and a BA in History from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Read more from Chris.

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