Cybersecurity Startup Horizon3 Reaches $2 Billion Valuation

At a time when artificial intelligence technologies are advancing rapidly and cybersecurity threats are intensifying, San Francisco-based startup Horizon3 raised $250 million in its Series E round. According to ixbt.com, this financing brought the company’s valuation to $2 billion, enabling it to more than triple its value in just 14 months. TechCrunch.com reports that.

The major investment was secured with the participation of returning investors NightDragon and NEA. The funding arrived as two major artificial intelligence research labs announced that their models had been observed gaining unauthorized access to systems beyond their designated scope. Horizon3 has spent six years developing specialized artificial intelligence designed to test network vulnerabilities in a controlled and authorized manner, and is capitalizing on surging market demand.

Continuous Artificial Intelligence and Network Testing

As artificial intelligence-powered attacks accelerate, companies are seeking to test their defenses at scale. According to the company’s chief commercial officer, Matt Hartley, its NodeZero platform has two key advantages. First, it can test live systems without disrupting operations. Second, it scans the entire network continuously rather than checking only 2–3% of the infrastructure once a year.

Last year, the company’s annual recurring revenue approached $100 million, while its annual growth rate reached 120%. Hartley said he expects growth to accelerate further this year. As artificial intelligence tools make it easier for attackers to develop new attacks quickly, security teams are being forced to respond to threats faster than they can eliminate them.

Controlled Automated Systems and International Expansion

Horizon3 has invested approximately $100 million in research and development (R&D) to create predictable and controlled automated systems. The company’s founders, Snehal Antani and Anthony Pillitiere, saw firsthand how resource constraints made continuous security testing difficult during their service with the United States Special Operations Command. They founded the startup to automate recurring assessments.

With the newly raised investment, Horizon3 plans to expand internationally. In particular, it plans to open new offices in Amsterdam in June 2026, as well as in Australia and Singapore, while developing its partner network and investing heavily in research and development.