Cybersecurity investors pushing cloud security and threat detection in 2025

Cybersecurity investing changed after ransomware attacks hit critical infrastructure and zero-day exploits became weekly news. Investors who backed perimeter security in 2018 watched their portfolio companies struggle with cloud migration. Now they're focused on identity security, supply chain attacks, and AI-powered threat detection. You'll find investors who understand SOC 2 compliance requirements and those who think cybersecurity is just selling antivirus to enterprises.

Quick list

Finding investors who understand security buyers

Experience: Find investors who've backed companies through compliance regulation changes like GDPR and SOC 2. Most VCs don't understand the difference between SIEM and XDR.

Network: Check if they can intro you to CISOs at Fortune 500 companies. Those relationships matter more than other security founders.

Alignment: Early-stage investors often don't understand enterprise security sales cycles. They'll push for product-led growth when you need to build relationships with security teams.

Track record: Look at whether their security portfolio companies reached $50M ARR or stalled at $10M. Dead security startups usually means they didn't understand buyer validation. Use Ellty to share your deck with trackable links. You'll see who actually opens your threat detection methodology slides versus just reviewing your team page.

Value-add: Ask what operational support they provide during SOC 2 audits or enterprise RFP processes. Generic "we have a great network" answers are useless. Most investors who claim security expertise backed one firewall company in 2016 and haven't followed zero trust architecture adoption since.

Getting meetings with security investors

Identify potential investors: Research recent deals on Pitchbook or Crunchbase and filter for 2024-2025 security investments. Seed funds won't lead your Series B, no matter how strong your enterprise pipeline is.

Craft a compelling pitch: Show CISO meetings and POC conversion rates in your pitch. Most investors are tired of "AI-powered security" claims without actual threat detection accuracy metrics.

Share your pitch deck: Upload to Ellty and send trackable links. Monitor which pages investors spend time on - if they skip your architecture diagrams, that's useful information about their technical depth.

Utilize your network: Message portfolio founders on LinkedIn and ask about investor response during security incidents or compliance audits. Most will be honest about which investors actually helped with enterprise deals.

Attend networking events: RSA Conference and Black Hat are where security deals actually happen. Skip the general SaaS conferences.

Engage on online platforms: Connect with partners on LinkedIn after you've been introduced by a CISO they know. Cold DMs rarely work in security unless you have exceptional traction. Protect your documents to secure sensitive materials and speed up the review process.

Organize due diligence: Set up an Ellty data room with your security architecture docs and penetration test results before they ask. It speeds up the process when they want to review your vulnerability management approach. Ensure your document-sharing practices follow regulations like GDPR or CCPA.

Set up introductory meetings: Lead with your threat detection efficacy and false positive rates. Don't waste 20 minutes on market size slides about cybersecurity spending growth they've seen 100 times.

Why security investing accelerated in 2025

Ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure pushed enterprise security budgets higher. Investors now separate legacy perimeter security from modern zero trust platforms. Supply chain attacks after SolarWinds made software security a board-level concern. The AI threat landscape created new categories in adversarial ML and model security. Companies that can't explain their detection methodology and false positive rates struggle to raise. Cloud security spending hit $75B in 2025, making CSPM and CNAPP platforms attractive to growth investors who ignored them in 2021.

22 top cybersecurity investors

1. Accel

Led CrowdStrike through IPO and understands endpoint security economics and enterprise adoption patterns.

• Recent Deals: CrowdStrike (IPO 2019, $80B+ valuation), endpoint security platform investments in 2025
• LinkedIn: Ping Li
• Sector Focus: endpoint security, cloud security, threat detection, security operations
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Palo Alto, USA / London, UK
• Website: accel.com

2. Sequoia Capital

Early Palo Alto Networks backer who understands network security and firewall economics.

• Recent Deals: Palo Alto Networks (early investor, $100B+ market cap), cloud security investments in 2025
• LinkedIn: Roelof Botha
• Sector Focus: network security, cloud security, security platforms, infrastructure security
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B, Growth
• Location: Menlo Park, USA
• Website: sequoiacap.com

3. Lightspeed Venture Partners

Data security specialist with experience scaling backup and recovery platforms.

• Recent Deals: Rubrik ($752M Series E, 2019), data security platform investments throughout 2025
• LinkedIn: Gaurav Gupta
• Sector Focus: data security, backup and recovery, ransomware protection, data management
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Menlo Park, USA
• Website: lsvp.com

4. Andreessen Horowitz

Identity security focus with proven track record in IAM and authentication platforms.

• Recent Deals: Okta (early rounds, IPO 2017), identity security investments in 2025
• LinkedIn: David Ulevitch
• Sector Focus: identity security, authentication, access management, zero trust
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Menlo Park, USA
• Website: a16z.com

5. Bessemer Venture Partners

Cloud security specialist who backed Auth0 through $6.5B acquisition by Okta.

• Recent Deals: Auth0 (acquired by Okta for $6.5B, 2021), IAM platform investments in 2025
• LinkedIn: Elliott Robinson
• Sector Focus: identity and access management, authentication, cloud security, developer security
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: New York, USA / Menlo Park, USA
• Website: bvp.com

6. Insight Partners

Growth equity leader with deep security portfolio and proven exit track record.

• Recent Deals: Armis ($300M Series D, 2021), Veeam (multiple rounds), security platform investments in 2025
• LinkedIn: Jeff Horing
• Sector Focus: enterprise security, threat detection, asset management, security operations
• Stage Focus: Series C, Growth, Pre-IPO
• Location: New York, USA
• Website: insightpartners.com

7. Greylock Partners

Network security heritage from early Palo Alto Networks investment and ongoing focus.

• Recent Deals: Palo Alto Networks (early investor), network security innovation investments in 2025
• LinkedIn: Asheem Chandna
• Sector Focus: network security, cloud security, security infrastructure, threat prevention
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Menlo Park, USA
• Website: greylock.com

8. General Catalyst

Compliance automation specialist backing GRC platforms and security posture management.

• Recent Deals: Drata ($200M Series C, 2022), compliance automation investments throughout 2025
• LinkedIn: Niko Bonatsos
• Sector Focus: compliance automation, GRC platforms, security posture, audit automation
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Cambridge, USA / San Francisco, USA
• Website: generalcatalyst.com

9. Ten Eleven Ventures

Security-only fund with deep technical expertise in threat detection and response platforms.

• Recent Deals: Security operations platforms, threat intelligence investments throughout 2025
• LinkedIn: Mark Hatfield
• Sector Focus: threat detection, security operations, incident response, threat intelligence
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Location: Menlo Park, USA
• Website: 1011vc.com

10. ForgePoint Capital

Dedicated cybersecurity investor with operator network and deep industry relationships.

• Recent Deals: Various security platforms across threat detection, cloud security in 2025
• LinkedIn: Alberto Yépez
• Sector Focus: enterprise security, cloud security, threat detection, security infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Palo Alto, USA
• Website: forgepointcap.com

11. DataTribe

Early-stage security fund located near NSA, backing technical founders with deep security expertise.

• Recent Deals: Technical security startups, cryptography platform investments in Maryland region 2025
• LinkedIn: Michael Janke
• Sector Focus: cryptography, threat intelligence, security infrastructure, deep tech security
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: Baltimore, USA
• Website: datatribe.com

12. Team8

Israel-based security specialist building companies with operator networks and technical co-founders.

• Recent Deals: Security company formation, cloud security investments throughout 2025
• LinkedIn: Liran Grinberg
• Sector Focus: enterprise security, cloud security, data security, security infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: Tel Aviv, Israel / New York, USA
• Website: team8.vc

13. YL Ventures

Israel-focused seed fund for technical security founders with deep product expertise.

• Recent Deals: Israeli security startups, technical security platform investments in 2025
• LinkedIn: Yoav Leitersdorf
• Sector Focus: cloud security, application security, infrastructure security, security operations
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: Tel Aviv, Israel / Palo Alto, USA
• Website: ylventures.com

14. Ballistic Ventures

Founded by former Palo Alto Networks executives, backing infrastructure security platforms.

• Recent Deals: Infrastructure security platforms, network security investments throughout 2025
• LinkedIn: Roger Thornton
• Sector Focus: infrastructure security, network security, cloud security, security platforms
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: Palo Alto, USA
• Website: ballistic.vc

15. SYN Ventures

CISO-led fund with strong buyer validation focus and enterprise security relationships.

• Recent Deals: Enterprise security platforms with CISO validation, SOC investments in 2025
• LinkedIn: Jay Leek
• Sector Focus: enterprise security, security operations, threat detection, CISO-focused solutions
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: synventures.com

16. Ridge Ventures

Early-stage focus on developer security and application security testing platforms.

• Recent Deals: Application security, developer security tool investments throughout 2025
• LinkedIn: Yash Hemaraj
• Sector Focus: application security, developer security, code security, DevSecOps
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: Palo Alto, USA
• Website: ridge.vc

17. Cyber Mentor Fund

Operator-heavy fund with former CISOs backing practical enterprise security solutions.

• Recent Deals: Enterprise security platforms, security operations investments in 2025
• LinkedIn: Tony Sager
• Sector Focus: enterprise security, security operations, threat management, practical security tools
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: Washington DC, USA
• Website: cybermentorfund.com

18. Evolution Equity Partners

Growth equity specialist in established security companies with proven revenue models.

• Recent Deals: Growth-stage security platforms, established security companies in 2025
• LinkedIn: Peter Chung
• Sector Focus: enterprise security, security platforms, established security companies
• Stage Focus: Growth, Pre-IPO
• Location: Menlo Park, USA / New York, USA
• Website: evolutionequity.com

19. Sapphire Ventures

Enterprise SaaS focus with experience scaling security platforms through late-stage rounds.

• Recent Deals: Enterprise security platforms, late-stage security investments throughout 2025
• LinkedIn: Jai Das
• Sector Focus: enterprise security, cloud security, security platforms, infrastructure security
• Stage Focus: Series C, Growth, Pre-IPO
• Location: Palo Alto, USA / Austin, USA
• Website: sapphireventures.com

20. ClearSky Security

European security fund with strong EMEA enterprise relationships and compliance expertise.

• Recent Deals: European security startups, GDPR-compliant security platforms in 2025
• LinkedIn: Jay Leek
• Sector Focus: enterprise security, compliance, cloud security, European security markets
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Location: London, UK
• Website: clearskysec.com

21. AllegisCyber

Dedicated cybersecurity investor across all stages and security subsectors.

• Recent Deals: Security platforms across multiple categories throughout 2025
• LinkedIn: Bob Ackerman
• Sector Focus: enterprise security, cloud security, threat detection, security infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B, Growth
• Location: Palo Alto, USA
• Website: allegiscyber.com

22. Strategic Cyber Ventures

Late-stage focus on proven security platforms with strong ARR and enterprise traction.

• Recent Deals: Late-stage security platforms with $20M+ ARR throughout 2025
• LinkedIn: Tom Kellermann
• Sector Focus: enterprise security, proven security platforms, high-ARR security companies
• Stage Focus: Series C, Growth, Pre-IPO
• Location: Arlington, USA
• Website: scv.vc

Track which investors care about your security approach

These 22 investors closed cybersecurity deals from 2023 to November 2025. Before you start reaching out, set up proper tracking.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each investor. You'll see exactly which slides they view and how long they spend on your threat detection methodology. Most security founders are surprised to learn investors skip their market opportunity slides but spend 5+ minutes on architecture diagrams and detection efficacy metrics.

When investors ask for technical documentation, share an Ellty data room instead of messy email threads. Your security architecture docs, penetration test results, and SOC 2 reports in one secure place with view analytics. You'll know if they're actually reviewing your compliance documentation or just collecting decks.

Common questions

How do I know if an investor actually understands security technology?

Ask them about their portfolio companies' detection methodologies or compliance approaches. If they can't discuss false positive rates or SOC 2 requirements, they don't understand the space deeply.

Should I pitch cloud security investors if I'm building application security tools?

Maybe. Some cloud security investors expanded into AppSec, but most don't understand developer workflows. Find investors who've backed DevSecOps platforms instead.

What's the difference between early-stage and growth security investors?

Early-stage investors want to see 10-20 enterprise POCs and CISO validation. Growth investors need $10M+ ARR and proven expansion revenue. Don't pitch growth metrics to seed funds.

How many cybersecurity investors should I reach out to?

Start with 20-25 that match your stage and security category. Track engagement with Ellty so you know who's actually interested versus collecting competitive intelligence.

When should I prepare security documentation for investors?

Before first meetings. They'll ask for architecture diagrams, penetration test results, and compliance certifications within 24 hours if they're serious.

Do investors actually care about threat detection accuracy in pitches?

Yes, especially technical security investors. Use Ellty analytics to see which technical slides get attention. If they skip your detection methodology section, they probably don't have the technical depth to evaluate your approach properly.