Cloud Security Startup Upwind Reaches US$900 Million Valuation

Cloud security startup Upwind has successfully closed a US$100 million Series A funding round, bringing its post-money valuation to US$900 million. The funding, led by Craft Ventures, TCV, Alta Park Capital, and some Upwind's previous investors, will be used to expand Upwind’s team and further develop its cloud security platform. 

“Cloud security is still in the early innings. Over the next decade, we believe it will grow into the most consequential market in security,” says Morgan Gerlak, Partner, TCV, to TechCrunch. Cloud security is growing in importance thanks to the increasing complexity of cloud infrastructures and the rising number of cyberthreats, he adds.

The need for cloud security has intensified as cloud computing adoption continues to soar across industries. With cloud infrastructures expanding rapidly, traditional security systems are struggling to keep up with the increasing attack surfaces. 

This challenge has driven enterprises to seek more effective security solutions, fueling investor interest in cloud security startups like Upwind. The company specializes in "runtime" security, focusing on real-time alerts and remediation for vulnerabilities and threats in active cloud services. This approach allows it to reduce alerts by 90% by only focusing on critical threats, according to its website.

"Cloud security is becoming more complex, and organizations need smart solutions to help them move fast, without breaking anything," says Amiram Shachar, Founder and CEO, Upwind, to Accesswire. "This investment reflects the growth and confidence we are seeing from enterprise customers and allows us to give customers tools that make a real difference. 

The US$100 million Series A funding will help Upwind scale its operations and enhance its platform’s capabilities, reports TechCrunch. With about 150 employees, the company also plans to double its workforce, expanding across the United States, the United Kingdom, Iceland, and Israel, with a focus on sales and marketing.

As part of its growth strategy, Upwind says it will continue developing its security solutions, which include cloud security posture management (CSPM), cloud workload protection (CWPP), cloud detection and response (CDR), API security, vulnerability management, identity security, and container security. By focusing on runtime security, Upwind aims to fill a critical gap in the market by providing businesses with the tools needed to stay ahead of cyberthreats.

“By the end of this year, and then next year, we will be moving towards AI security and advanced prevention, going into code and dependencies in code, to bring even higher fidelity [to the platform],” says Shachar. 

The rapid growth of the cloud security sector, coupled with the significant funding secured by Upwind and other big players inside the industry like Wiz, Orca, Palo Alto Networks, and Check Point highlights the sector’s expanding relevance in the cybersecurity market. 

“As more businesses migrate to cloud infrastructures, the demand for specialized security tools is expected to grow, ensuring continued opportunities for startups and established companies alike,” says Shachar.