Belgian cybersecurity startup Aikido Security has been crowned Europe’s newest unicorn after raising a $60m Series B funding round.
Founded in 2022, Ghent-based Aikido promises clients a “no BS” approach to security, with an AI-powered platform enabling them to easily secure their code, cloud and other processes.
The company recently ranked second in the Sifted Future 50 list, which uses a one-year revenue growth rate, calculated over the two most recent financial years, to identify the startups with the highest percentage growth. Aikido recorded a 1,531% revenue growth rate in its latest financial year ending January 2025, according to information submitted to Sifted.
The funding round, which valued Aikido at $1bn, was led by DST Global, with participation from PSG Equity, Singular, Notion Capital and others.
In a blog post announcing the raise, chief growth officer Madeline Lawrence said Aikido was the fastest ever cybersecurity company to reach unicorn status in Europe.
“In an industry dominated by Palo Alto and Tel Aviv heavyweights, Aikido shows that Europe can build a world-class software security company and win globally,” Lawrence wrote.
“When you haven’t learned the industry rules, it’s easier to break them. And that outsider mentality is still our advantage,” she added.
Aikido says its software is used by more than 100k teams globally, with notable customers including the Premier League, SoundCloud and Revolut.
