Introduction to Cybersecurity Startups
As the new year gets underway, several up-and-coming players in the cybersecurity sector are hitting the market with fresh funding to deploy. Many of these startups are bringing a major focus on securing the usage of AI, whether it’s GenAI-powered applications or the underlying large language models themselves. However, plenty of cybersecurity startups worth watching in 2025 are focused on other categories as well, including security operations, email security, and identity management.
Emerging Cybersecurity Startups
Recently funded startups include companies providing new approaches to critical areas of cybersecurity. Some emerging companies are focused on protecting against the malicious use of AI, such as deepfake detection. As part of the industry coverage to kick off 2025, we’ve identified 10 cybersecurity startups that have recently come onto our radar. These startups are focused on products in fast-growing security segments and have raised a major early-stage funding round since June 2024.
Abstract Security
Abstract Security offers a data fabric and analytics platform for cybersecurity, aiming to improve data routing and reduce complexity around security. The startup announced a $15 million Series A funding round in October 2024, led by Munich Re Ventures. Abstract Security’s platform enables advanced data management, making it an exciting startup to watch in 2025.
Concentric AI
Concentric AI offers autonomous data security posture management (DSPM), providing context-aware discovery, classification, monitoring, and remediation for data. The startup announced a $45 million Series B funding round in October 2024, led by Top Tier Capital Partners and HarbourVest Partners. Concentric AI’s capabilities include securing data in GenAI tools, making it a significant player in the cybersecurity sector.
Entro Security
Entro Security offers security for non-human identities and management of secrets, including API keys, certificates, and tokens. The startup announced an $18 million Series A funding round in June 2024, led by Dell Technologies Capital. Entro Security’s capabilities include detection and response in real-time for attacks exploiting non-human identities and secrets.
Lakera AI
Lakera AI offers real-time GenAI application security, preventing unintended actions by GenAI apps resulting from attack methods such as data poisoning and prompt attacks. The startup announced a $21 million Series A funding round in August 2024, led by Atomico. Lakera AI’s capabilities make it an essential startup to watch in 2025, especially with the growing use of GenAI applications.
Prompt Security
Prompt Security offers protection against AI-related threats by providing enhanced visibility and governance for GenAI tools. The startup announced an $18 million Series A funding round in November 2024, led by Jump Capital. Prompt Security’s capabilities include security for every touchpoint of AI in an organization, making it a crucial player in the cybersecurity sector.
Reality Defender
Reality Defender offers deepfake detection by utilizing a multi-model approach and hundreds of patented techniques to effectively detect deepfakes across images, video, audio, and text. The startup announced the completion of a $33 million Series A funding round in October 2024, led by Illuminate Financial. Reality Defender’s capabilities make it an exciting startup to watch in 2025, especially with the growing concern of deepfakes.
Seven AI
Seven AI calls itself the first agentic security platform capable of fully utilizing the capabilities of GenAI technologies to provide enhanced cyber defense. The company’s platform is capable of making decisions autonomously to achieve specific cybersecurity goals without human intervention. Seven AI announced a $36 million Series A funding round in June 2024, led by Greylock. Seven AI’s capabilities make it a significant player in the cybersecurity sector.
Socket
Socket offers a modern replacement for traditional software composition analysis, with its tool for proactive monitoring of open-source software packages. The startup announced a $40 million Series B funding round in October 2024, led by Abstract Ventures. Socket’s capabilities include real-time detection of threats such as backdoors, obfuscated code, and typo-squatting.
Sublime Security
Sublime Security offers an adaptive email security platform leveraging AI-powered capabilities, enabling its platform to automatically adapt to evolving threats exploiting the inbox. The startup announced a $60 million Series B funding round in December 2024, led by IVP. Sublime Security’s capabilities make it an essential startup to watch in 2025, especially with the growing concern of email security.
Tuskira
Tuskira offers a holistic threat defense platform utilizing AI-powered security mesh technology. The startup announced its exit from stealth with $28.5 million in funding in December 2024, led by Intel Capital and SYN Ventures. Tuskira’s capabilities include bringing together security tools through deployment of automated assessments of security controls along with in-depth analysis of exploits for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The cybersecurity sector is rapidly evolving, with new startups emerging to address the growing concerns of AI-related threats, security operations, email security, and identity management. The 10 startups identified in this article are worth watching in 2025, with their innovative approaches to cybersecurity and significant funding rounds. As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, these startups are poised to make a significant impact in the industry. With their advanced capabilities and cutting-edge technologies, they are helping to shape the future of cybersecurity and protect against emerging threats.
