These up-and-coming companies are offering new approaches to key categories including security operations, email security and protecting the usage of GenAI.
As the new year gets underway, a number of up-and-coming players in the cybersecurity sector are hitting the market with fresh funding to deploy. Unsurprisingly, many are bringing a major focus on securing the usage of AI — whether it’s GenAI-powered applications or the underlying large language models themselves. But plenty of cybersecurity startups that are worth watching in 2025 are focused on other categories, too.
[Related: 10 Major Ransomware Attacks And Data Breaches In 2024]
For instance, recently funded startups include companies providing new approaches to the critical areas of security operations, email security and identity management. Other emerging companies are focused on protecting against the malicious use of AI, such as deepfake detection startup Reality Defender.
As part of CRN’s industry coverage to kick off 2025, we’ve identified 10 cybersecurity startups that have recently come onto our radar. We’ve chosen startups that are focused on products in fast-growing security segments and raised a major early-stage funding round — seed, Series A or Series B — since June 2024.
What follows are the key details on 10 cybersecurity startups to watch in 2025.
Abstract Security
Founded: 2023
CEO: Colby DeRodeff
Abstract Security offers a data fabric and analytics platform for cybersecurity, which aims to enable an improvement in data routing and reduction in complexity around security as well as “advanced” data management. In October 2024, the startup announced a $15 million Series A funding round led by Munich Re Ventures with participation from Crosslink Capital and Rally Ventures.
Concentric AI
Founded: 2018
CEO: Karthik Krishnan
Concentric AI offers what it describes as “autonomous” data security posture management (DSPM), providing “context-aware” discovery, classification, monitoring and remediation for data — including in GenAI tools such as Microsoft Copilot. In October 2024, the startup announced a $45 million Series B funding round led by Top Tier Capital Partners and HarbourVest Partners.
Entro Security
Founded: 2022
CEO: Itzik Alvas
Entro Security offers security for non-human identities along with management of secrets, including API keys, certificates and tokens. Capabilities include detection and response in real time for attacks exploiting non-human identities and secrets, according to the startup. In June 2024, Entro announced an $18 million Series A funding round led by Dell Technologies Capital with the participation from Hyperwise Ventures and StageOne Ventures.
Lakera AI
Founded: 2021
CEO: David Haber
Lakera AI offers what it calls “real-time GenAI application security,” with capabilities for preventing unintended actions by GenAI apps resulting from attack methods such as data poisoning and prompt attacks. In August 2024, the startup announced a $21 million Series A funding round led by Atomico with participation from Citi Ventures, Dropbox and redalpine.
Prompt Security
Founded: 2023
CEO: Itamar Golan
Prompt Security offers protection against AI-related threats through providing enhanced visibility and governance for GenAI tools. Key capabilities include security for “every touchpoint of AI in the organization – including browsers, copilots, coding assistants, and homegrown applications,” the startup said. In November 2024, Prompt Security announced an $18 million Series A funding round led by Jump Capital with participation from Hetz Ventures, Ridge Ventures, Okta and F5.
Reality Defender
Founded: 2021
CEO: Ben Colman
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, according to the company. The startup offers an API that allows organizations to upload large amounts of content and scale detection capabilities as necessary. In October 2024, Reality Defender announced the completion of a $33 million Series A funding round led by Illuminate Financial with participation from other investors including Accenture, Booz Allen Ventures and IBM Ventures.
Seven AI
Founded: 2024
CEO: Lior Div
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 said. In June 2024, the startup announced a $36 million Series A funding round led by Munich Re Ventures with participation from Crosslink Capital and Rally Ventures.
Socket
Founded: 2020
CEO: Feross Aboukhadijeh
Socket offers what it describes as a more-modern replacement for traditional software composition analysis, with its tool for proactive monitoring of open-source software packages. Key capabilities include real-time detection of threats such as backdoors, obfuscated code and typo-squatting, the company said. In October 2024, Socket announced a $40 million Series B funding round led by Abstract Ventures with participation from other investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Google Cloud CISO Phil Venables.
Sublime Security
Founded: 2019
CEO: Josh Kamdjou
Sublime Security offers what it describes as an “adaptive” email security platform leveraging AI-powered capabilities, enabling its platform to automatically adapt to evolving threats exploiting the inbox. In December 2024, the startup announced a $60 million Series B funding round led by IVP with participation from Citi Ventures, Index Ventures, Decibel Partners and Slow Ventures.
Tuskira
Founded: 2023
CEO: Piyush Sharrma
Tuskira offers what it calls a “holistic” threat defense platform utilizing AI-powered security mesh technology. Key capabilities include the ability to bring together security tools through deployment of automated assessments of security controls along with “in-depth” analysis of exploits for vulnerabilities, the startup said. In December 2024, Tuskira announced its exit from stealth with $28.5 million in funding led by Intel Capital and SYN Ventures, with participation from Sorenson Capital, Rain Capital and Wipro Ventures.
