Privacy tech investors financing security and compliance companies in 2026

Privacy tech is finally getting real money. With GDPR fines hitting €1.5B+ annually and AI regulations rolling out, investors stopped treating security as an afterthought. The sector saw $8.2B in funding last year, up from $5.1B in 2023.

If you're building privacy infrastructure, compliance automation, or data protection tools, you need investors who understand the regulatory complexity. Most generalist VCs don't get why GDPR compliance alone won't build a moat. These 20 investors do.

Quick list

Finding investors who get privacy tech

Experience: Find investors who've backed companies through SOC 2 audits and GDPR implementation. Most generalist VCs don't understand why compliance is recurring revenue, not one-time—especially those who’ve never evaluated proper document analytics.

Network: Check if they can intro you to CISOs at enterprise companies. That matters more than connections to other VCs. Privacy tech needs design partner customers, not just capital, which makes early secure file sharing workflows essential.

Alignment: Security-focused funds understand 18-month sales cycles. Growth stage VCs often expect SaaS velocity that doesn't exist in enterprise security. Make sure they've funded similar GTM motions before.

Track record: Look at whether their portfolio companies survived regulatory changes. A bunch of CCPA-only plays that died when enforcement hit is a red flag—especially if they lacked proper pitch-deck clarity around compliance risk.

Communication: Use Ellty to share your deck with trackable links. You'll see who actually opens your compliance framework slides vs. just skimming the product overview.

Value-add: Ask what operational support they provide during security audits and enterprise sales cycles. Generic "we have a great network" answers are useless. You need investors who understand why your first 10 customers take 9 months each—something only those experienced in startup fundraising truly grasp.

Getting their attention

Identify potential investors: Research recent deals on Crunchbase and check who led rounds in adjacent categories like data governance and identity management. Seed funds won't understand your enterprise sales motion if they only back prosumer apps.

Craft a compelling pitch: Show customer acquisition cost and why enterprises pay 6-figure contracts. Most investors are tired of "GDPR compliance platform" pitches without retention data and expansion revenue metrics.

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

Utilize your network: Message portfolio founders on LinkedIn and ask about response times during security incidents. Most will be honest about whether their investors actually help with CISO intros.

Attend networking events: Black Hat and RSA Conference are where privacy tech deals actually happen. Skip the generic startup events where nobody understands zero-knowledge proofs.

Engage on online platforms: Connect with partners on LinkedIn after introductions through portfolio companies. Cold DMs about "disrupting compliance" rarely work unless you're already known for strong file-sharing security.

Organize due diligence: Set up an Ellty data room with your security certifications and customer contracts before they ask. It speeds up the process and shows you understand enterprise requirements.

Set up introductory meetings: Lead with your existing enterprise customers and renewal rates. Don't waste 20 minutes on market size slides about GDPR fines they've seen 100 times.

Why this matters now

Privacy regulations aren't slowing down. The EU's AI Act enforcement starts in 2026, and US states passed 12 new privacy laws in 2024. Companies face an average of $4.5M in annual compliance costs, creating real demand for automation tools.

The sector consolidated around three categories that actually work: privacy infrastructure (data mapping and compliance automation), identity and access management, and privacy-preserving computation. Investors now understand the difference between compliance theater and tools that reduce legal risk.

20 privacy tech investors

1. Accomplish Partners

They led Transcend's Series B and understand privacy infrastructure at scale.

• Recent Deals: Transcend ($40M Series B, January 2026), SafeBase ($20M Series A, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Jeff Greenberg
• Sector Focus: privacy infrastructure, compliance automation, data governance
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Location: Boston, United States
• Website: accomplishpartners.com

2. Accel

Backed OneTrust from early stage and invested in data infrastructure companies that handle privacy at scale.

• Recent Deals: Databricks ($500M, 2023), OneTrust (growth rounds)
• LinkedIn: Rich Wong
• Sector Focus: enterprise software, data infrastructure, privacy platforms
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, growth
• Location: Palo Alto, United States
• Website: accel.com

3. Ballistic Ventures

Security-focused fund that backs infrastructure security and cloud protection tools.

• Recent Deals: Resourcely ($18M Series A, January 2026), Island ($175M Series C, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Ted Schlein
• Sector Focus: cloud security, infrastructure protection, identity management
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: Menlo Park, United States
• Website: ballisticventures.com

4. Boldstart Ventures

Early-stage security fund that backed BigID before everyone else understood data discovery.

• Recent Deals: BigID (early rounds), Snyk (seed), authzed ($12M Series A, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Ed Sim
• Sector Focus: enterprise security, developer tools, identity management
• Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed, Series A
• Location: New York, United States
• Website: boldstart.vc

5. ClearSky Security

They only do security deals and led Cyera's massive Series C in 2024.

• Recent Deals: Cyera ($300M Series C, September 2024), Wiz (multiple rounds)
• LinkedIn: Jay Leek
• Sector Focus: data security, cloud security, privacy infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Boston, United States
• Website: clearskysec.com

6. Costanoa Ventures

Backed Vanta early and understand compliance automation for startups scaling to enterprise.

• Recent Deals: Vanta (Series A), Thoropass ($20M Series A, 2023), Apptega ($15M, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Greg Sands
• Sector Focus: compliance automation, security operations, GRC platforms
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: Palo Alto, United States
• Website: costanoavc.com

7. Cyberstarts

Israeli security fund that backs technical founders building infrastructure security tools.

• Recent Deals: Apono ($24M Series A, May 2024), Valence Security ($7.5M seed, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Gili Raanan
• Sector Focus: access management, identity security, cloud infrastructure
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A
• Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
• Website: cyberstarts.com

8. Data Collective (DCVC)

They backed Signal and invest in privacy-preserving AI and secure computation.

• Recent Deals: Signal (early funding), Duality Technologies, Inpher (privacy tech)
• LinkedIn: Matt Ocko
• Sector Focus: privacy-preserving AI, secure computation, encrypted data
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: San Francisco, United States
• Website: dcvc.com

9. Dell Technologies Capital

They led Privacera's Series C and back data governance platforms for enterprises.

• Recent Deals: Privacera ($50M Series C, 2023), Securiti (multiple rounds)
• LinkedIn: Scott Darling
• Sector Focus: data governance, access control, enterprise privacy
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, growth
• Location: Palo Alto, United States
• Website: delltechnologiescapital.com

10. Evolution Equity Partners

Growth investor in OneTrust and other privacy platforms reaching $50M+ ARR.

• Recent Deals: OneTrust (growth rounds), Egnyte (growth), BigID ($70M, 2023)
• LinkedIn: Mark Throdahl
• Sector Focus: enterprise privacy platforms, data governance, compliance software
• Stage Focus: growth, late-stage
• Location: San Francisco, United States
• Website: evolutionequity.com

11. ForgePoint Capital

Security-focused fund that backs GRC platforms and compliance automation tools.

• Recent Deals: ISMS.online (Series A), Drata ($200M Series C, 2023)
• LinkedIn: Alberto Yépez
• Sector Focus: GRC platforms, compliance automation, risk management
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: San Francisco, United States
• Website: forgepointcap.com

12. Georgian

Canadian fund that backed Trulioo and understands identity verification at scale.

• Recent Deals: Trulioo (multiple rounds), Persona ($150M Series D, 2023)
• LinkedIn: Paul Cianciolo
• Sector Focus: identity verification, KYC compliance, trust infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, growth
• Location: Toronto, Canada
• Website: georgian.io

13. Insight Partners

They backed Vanta's massive Series C and understand compliance automation revenue models.

• Recent Deals: Vanta ($150M Series C, 2023), OneTrust (growth rounds), Drata
• LinkedIn: Jeff Horing
• Sector Focus: compliance automation, security platforms, enterprise software
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, growth
• Location: New York, United States
• Website: insightpartners.com

14. Intel Capital

They invest in privacy-preserving compute and hardware-based security solutions.

• Recent Deals: Fortanix (confidential computing), Anjuna Security ($30M Series B, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Wendell Brooks
• Sector Focus: confidential computing, hardware security, encrypted processing
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Santa Clara, United States
• Website: intelcapital.com

15. Kleiner Perkins

They backed Ring early and invest in privacy-focused consumer hardware and infrastructure.

• Recent Deals: Ring (early rounds), 1Password (growth), privacy startups
• LinkedIn: Ilya Fushman
• Sector Focus: consumer privacy, identity management, secure hardware
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, growth
• Location: Menlo Park, United States
• Website: kleinerperkins.com

16. Menlo Ventures

Backed Sift and understand fraud prevention and privacy-safe data processing.

• Recent Deals: Sift (multiple rounds), Abnormal Security ($250M Series D, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Matt Murphy
• Sector Focus: fraud prevention, secure data processing, compliance automation
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, growth
• Location: Menlo Park, United States
• Website: menlovc.com

17. Samsung NEXT

Corporate venture arm that backs privacy infrastructure and consumer privacy tools.

• Recent Deals: Privacy.com, GDPR compliance tools, encrypted messaging
• LinkedIn: Brandon Hoffman
• Sector Focus: consumer privacy, encrypted communication, privacy infrastructure
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: San Francisco, United States
• Website: samsungnext.com

18. Sorenson Ventures

They backed Mine and understand privacy rights management for consumers.

• Recent Deals: Mine ($30M Series B, 2023), privacy rights platforms
• LinkedIn: Robert Sorenson
• Sector Focus: privacy rights, data deletion, consumer privacy tools
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Location: Salt Lake City, United States
• Website: sorensonventures.com

19. TCV

Growth investor that led Snyk's huge Series F and backs developer security tools.

• Recent Deals: Snyk ($530M Series F, 2023), Wiz (growth rounds)
• LinkedIn: David Yuan
• Sector Focus: developer security, cloud security, application security
• Stage Focus: Series C, growth, late-stage
• Location: Menlo Park, United States
• Website: tcv.com

20. Thomvest Ventures

Early investor in Vanta who backed them before compliance automation was obvious.

• Recent Deals: Vanta (seed, Series A), security infrastructure startups
• LinkedIn: Umesh Padval
• Sector Focus: compliance automation, developer tools, security operations
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A
• Location: San Francisco, United States
• Website: thomvest.com

Track which investors actually open your deck

These 20 investors closed deals from 2023 to 2026. 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 security architecture. Most founders are surprised to learn investors skip their GDPR compliance slides but spend 5+ minutes on customer contracts and retention metrics.

When investors ask for your SOC 2 report or customer references, share an Ellty data room instead of messy email threads. Your certifications, financial model, and enterprise contracts in one secure place with view analytics. You'll know if they actually reviewed your compliance documentation before the partner meeting.

Common questions

How do I know if an investor is still active in privacy tech?

Check their portfolio page for deals in the last 12 months. If they haven't announced a privacy tech investment since 2022, they probably shifted focus. Most funds update their thesis every 2-3 years.

Should I pitch compliance automation differently than infrastructure security?

Yes. Compliance investors want to see recurring revenue from annual audits and certifications. Infrastructure security investors care more about technical moats and developer adoption. Don't use the same deck for both.

What's the difference between seed and growth stage privacy tech investors?

Seed investors will fund you with design partners and an MVP. Growth investors want $10M+ ARR and proof that enterprises renew contracts. Series B+ investors expect 120%+ net retention from existing customers.

How many privacy tech investors should I contact?

Reach out to 15-20 initially. Privacy tech is specialized enough that most generalist VCs will pass. You need investors who understand why your sales cycle is 9+ months and why that's normal for enterprise security.

When should I set up a data room?

Before your first partner meeting. Privacy tech investors expect you to have security certifications ready. Setting it up after they ask slows everything down and makes you look unprepared for enterprise sales.

Do investors actually look at pitch deck analytics?

The good ones track their own deal flow, so they understand why you're tracking theirs. If an investor spends 8 minutes on your unit economics but skips your team slide, that tells you what questions they'll ask in the meeting.