| Rank | VC Firm | Location | Top Company | Total AUM | Top Cybersecurity Startups | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto, CA | CrowdStrike | $26.7B | CrowdStrikeSentinelOneSnyk1PasswordVercel |
| |
| 2 | Menlo Park, CA | Okta | $56B | OktaZscalerCloudflareFireEyePalo Alto Networks |
| |
| 3 | Menlo Park, CA | Abnormal Security | $5B | Abnormal SecurityObsidian SecurityWizVanta |
| |
| 4 | Menlo Park, CA | Cloudflare | $90B | CloudflareOktaPalo Alto NetworksSentinelOneWiz |
| |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA / London | Snyk | $15B | Snyk1PasswordVercelGitGuardian |
| |
| 6 | New York, NY | Vanta | $90B | Vanta1PasswordSnykWiz |
| |
| 7 | Mountain View, CA | CrowdStrike | $8.0B | CrowdStrikeOktaSentinelOne |
| |
| 8 | Menlo Park, CA | Palo Alto Networks | $10.8B | Palo Alto NetworksFireEyeZscaler |
| |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA | Okta | $4.8B | Okta1PasswordVercel |
| |
| 10 | Menlo Park, CA | SentinelOne | $40B | SentinelOneCrowdStrikeWizSnyk |
| |
| 11 | Cambridge, MA | Wiz | $28.9B | WizVantaObsidian Security |
| |
| 12 | Menlo Park, CA | Palo Alto Networks | $27.8B | Palo Alto NetworksFireEyeZscaler |
| |
| 13 | San Francisco, CA | Twilio | $18.8B | TwilioAuth01Password |
| |
| 14 | Menlo Park, CA | Okta | $4.5B | Okta1PasswordVercel |
| |
| 15 | San Francisco, CA | Obsidian Security | $1.2B | Obsidian SecurityVantaWiz |
|
About This Ranking
This ranking is based on comprehensive analysis of venture capital firm involvement in high-value cybersecurity startups:
- Top Company: The highest-valued cybersecurity startup in the VC's portfolio
- Total AUM: Total Assets Under Management for the VC firm
- Top Cybersecurity Startups: Cybersecurity startups in the VC's portfolio from leading security companies
- Ranking Methodology: Prioritizes value created per dollar, early conviction (investing before success was obvious), and ownership quality in cybersecurity companies
Frequently Asked Questions
This ranking evaluates venture capital firms based on their involvement in high-value cybersecurity startups. We prioritize value created per dollar invested, early conviction (investing before success was obvious), ownership quality, and the total ecosystem valuation of cybersecurity companies in each VC's portfolio.
Cybersecurity is a specialized sector with unique dynamics. VCs that show early conviction in emerging security threats (like cloud security, zero-trust, or AI security) often outperform those that invest reactively. Our ranking rewards firms that identify and back category-defining security companies before they become obvious.
Top cybersecurity VCs combine deep technical understanding of security threats with strong founder relationships. They invest early in companies addressing emerging attack vectors, demonstrate conviction in unproven security models, and build portfolios that span infrastructure security, application security, identity management, and threat intelligence.
Cloud security, identity and access management (IAM), endpoint detection and response (EDR), security operations (SOC), and AI-powered threat detection have generated the highest valuations. Companies like CrowdStrike, Okta, Zscaler, and SentinelOne represent multi-billion dollar outcomes in these categories.
Early-stage cybersecurity VCs often back companies addressing emerging threats (like API security, supply chain security, or AI security) before the market recognizes the need. Later-stage investors typically focus on scaling proven security models. Our ranking prioritizes early conviction and value creation per dollar.
Exits (IPOs and acquisitions) demonstrate the ability to build category-defining companies. VCs with strong exit track records in cybersecurity, whether through IPOs like CrowdStrike or acquisitions like Okta, show they can identify and scale security companies that become market leaders.
Traditional rankings often measure total AUM or deal volume. Our ranking prioritizes value created per dollar, early conviction in cybersecurity companies, and ownership quality. A smaller fund with exceptional early bets in security companies ranks higher than a large fund with many late-stage positions.
Top cybersecurity VCs typically have portfolios spanning multiple security categories, from infrastructure to application security to identity management. Firms like Accel, Sequoia, and Greylock have built strong cybersecurity track records by investing early in companies that became category leaders.