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Israeli cloud security startup hits $1.5 billion unicorn status

Upwind joins the Jewish state’s unicorn ranks after a $250 million Series B round.

Upwind executives mark the company’s $100 million Series A announcement at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Dec. 4, 2024. Source: @upwindsecurity/X.
Upwind executives mark the company’s $100 million Series A announcement at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Dec. 4, 2024. Source: @upwindsecurity/X.

Tel Aviv-based cloud security startup Upwind has joined Israel’s growing list of unicorns after the company said Monday that it raised $250 million in a Series B round at a $1.5 billion valuation.

Upwind, which uses artificial intelligence to protect live cloud environments in real time, reports 900% revenue growth and a global customer base that includes Siemens, Peloton, Roku and NuBank.

The round was led by Bessemer Venture Partners and Picture Capital, which is backed by the founders of Island and Transmit Security, according to Calcalist, which first reported the funding round last week.

Upwind said the latest financing brings its total funding to $430 million. Other backers include Craft Ventures, TCV, Alta Park Capital, Greylock, Cyberstarts, Leaders Fund, Cerca, Sheva and Penny Jar, a fund backed by NBA star Stephen Curry.

Founded in 2022 by CEO Amiram Shachar and former Spot.io colleagues Liran Polak, Lavi Ferdman and Tal Zuri, Upwind last raised $100 million in late 2024 at an estimated valuation of $800 million to $900 million.

The company was reported to be in talks to be acquired by Datadog for about $1 billion in July 2025.

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