Necessary Always Active
Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
Horizon3.ai funding is making headlines as the cybersecurity startup raised nearly $100 million in its latest funding round. According to TechCrunch, the company has already secured at least $73 million. The round is being led by NEA, one of the top venture capital firms in the U.S.
Founded in 2019, Horizon3.ai is a cybersecurity startup that uses artificial intelligence to run autonomous penetration testing. This helps companies find and fix their security problems before hackers can exploit them. The company is now believed to be valued at more than $750 million. However, it’s still unclear if this number is before or after the new funding.
This new funding round follows the company’s strong business performance. In February, Horizon3.ai said it had achieved 101% year-over-year revenue growth and reached more than 150% of its Q4 sales pipeline. The company did not share exact revenue figures, but one person familiar with the deal told TechCrunch that Horizon3.ai makes about $30 million in annual recurring revenue.
This rapid growth comes as the demand for AI-based security tools continues to rise. More companies are looking for advanced protection against growing cyber threats, especially as AI-powered attacks become more common.
Earlier this month, Horizon3.ai received FedRAMP authorization, allowing it to offer its cybersecurity services to U.S. government agencies. This is a major step forward for the company and opens the door to large public sector contracts.
This is not the first major funding round for Horizon3.ai. In August 2023, the company raised $40 million in a Series C round led by Craft Ventures, with support from SignalFire. At that time, the company’s total funding reached $78.5 million. The money helped expand its research and development team and increase its presence in the cybersecurity market.
The company’s CEO and co-founder, Snehal Antani, is a former Chief Technology Officer at Splunk and has also worked with U.S. military cyber operations. His background in both technology and defense has helped shape the company’s strong security-first approach.
Horizon3.ai’s main product, NodeZero, is an AI-powered tool that runs automated penetration tests. These tests simulate real-world cyberattacks to find weak points in a company’s system. The tool can be used regularly without needing a large internal team or outside consultants. This makes cybersecurity testing faster, cheaper, and more effective for companies of all sizes.
“Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for companies to find and fix problems before bad actors do,” the company has said in past statements.
The company is also working closely with Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) to grow its customer base. Over 80% of Horizon3.ai’s customers now work with the company through these partners, showing how important the partner network has become to its growth.
In total, Horizon3.ai has completed over 100,000 autonomous penetration tests for thousands of clients. The company has received praise for its work, including being named to the Fortune Cyber 60 list for two years in a row and winning multiple cybersecurity awards in 2024.
The new funding will likely help the company invest more in innovation, hire more engineers, and grow its presence in both commercial and government markets. One person told TechCrunch that the company may sell the full $100 million in this round, though that has not yet been confirmed.
With strong backing, growing revenue, and a clear focus on AI-powered defense, Horizon3.ai is becoming one of the top cyber defense startups in 2025. As AI continues to play a bigger role in both attacks and protection, the company’s tools may become even more valuable in the future.