Belgian cybersecurity firm Aikido Security has raised 60 million dollars in a recent funding round, bringing its valuation to 1 billion dollars. The milestone places the company among a small group of European cybersecurity firms to reach unicorn status in a short period of time. The funding will be used to further develop its security platform and advance work on software systems designed to protect themselves automatically.
Founded in 2022, Aikido Security focuses on addressing security risks across the full software lifecycle. As organizations increasingly rely on complex applications that span code repositories, cloud infrastructure, and live production environments, security teams face growing challenges in managing fragmented tools and large volumes of alerts. Aikido’s approach centers on unifying these areas into a single operational view.
The company’s platform brings together multiple security capabilities that are often handled through separate products. These include application security testing during development, analysis of third party software components, detection of exposed credentials, cloud configuration checks, and protection during runtime. By consolidating these functions, Aikido Security aims to reduce the operational burden placed on both security and engineering teams.
A key focus of the platform is prioritization. Rather than ranking risks based only on theoretical severity scores, the system evaluates whether vulnerabilities are actually exploitable in a given application context. This method considers factors such as exposure, configuration, and how the software is used in real environments. The goal is to help teams focus on issues that pose immediate and realistic risk, instead of being overwhelmed by long lists of low impact findings.
The platform is designed to fit into existing development workflows. It integrates directly with code repositories, continuous integration pipelines, and cloud environments. Security findings are surfaced within tools that developers already use, accompanied by clear guidance on how to resolve issues. This design reflects a broader shift in cybersecurity toward closer alignment between development and security functions.
Demand for Unified Software Security Platforms
The funding round reflects growing demand for platforms that can manage security across modern software environments. As applications become more distributed and update cycles accelerate, traditional security models that rely on isolated tools struggle to keep pace. Organizations increasingly seek solutions that provide consistent visibility across development, deployment, and production.
Industry observers note that integrated platforms can help reduce blind spots that arise when security data is spread across multiple systems. By correlating information from code analysis, cloud checks, and runtime behavior, teams gain a clearer understanding of how risks evolve over time. This approach also supports faster decision making when new vulnerabilities are discovered.
The emphasis on developer focused security tools mirrors a broader trend within the cybersecurity sector. As developers play a larger role in addressing security issues early in the software lifecycle, tools such as Aikido Security that align with their workflows become more valuable. Platforms that reduce friction between teams can help improve overall security posture without slowing delivery.
Growth and Investment Signals in European Cybersecurity
Aikido Security’s rise to a billion-dollar valuation highlights continued investor interest in cybersecurity firms that address complex and evolving threats. Europe has seen steady growth in cybersecurity innovation, with startups focusing on cloud security, application protection, and automation. The rapid scaling of companies like Aikido points to sustained demand for solutions that simplify security management at scale.
The newly raised capital is expected to support the expansion of the platform’s capabilities, particularly in the area of autonomous protection. Self securing software aims to detect and respond to threats with minimal human intervention, an approach that could become increasingly important as attack surfaces grow.
As organizations continue to modernize their software stacks, the need for comprehensive visibility across code, cloud, and runtime environments is likely to increase. Aikido Security’s funding round reflects how the market is responding to that need, with significant investment flowing toward platforms that seek to unify and streamline software security operations.
