Deeptech
Q2 202418.04.2024

Cybersecurity

Picture of Éanna Kelly

Éanna Kelly

at Sifted

Is AI making us safer, or hackers more cunning? Tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT are helping improve everything from the quality of phishing emails to — more worryingly — the potency of malicious code. Hackers are using deepfake videos to impersonate your boss, while also trying to trick chatbots into forwarding private documents. Cryptocurrency, meanwhile, has given ransomware gangs a way to cash out immediately with little risk.

The staggering advance of generative AI is making it cheaper and lower effort to create new cyber weapons. “It’s worth trying if it only costs you pennies to try and attack something, whereas before it would cost you several thousands of pounds per attempt,” Glyn Roberts, CTO of software company Vention, told Sifted recently.

But while all of this new tech heightens the powers of attackers, it’s the same story for defenders. Large companies are exploring computer-generated passcode defences — which are virtually impossible to steal — as well as the potential of fully automated cyber defence. Paris-based Qevlar AI, for example, uses AI to automate the investigation of cybersecurity alerts. This tech can learn about different alerts and recommend what actions need to be taken next. Growing awareness around cybercrime sees offices enlisting expert training for their staff. Oslo-based Pistachio uses AI to create tailored training programmes. France’s Filigran provides “adversary simulation” — the CEO and cofounder, Samuel Hassine, used to run the threat intel team at ANSSI, France’s national cyber agency.

Europe’s cyber startups need to be nimble because criminals are innovative and the nature of the threat keeps changing. In this new era of AI-enabled cat and mouse, security tools need to be a priority.

20 startups to watch

  • IDlayr logo

    Sifted score

    8.19
    -

    IDlayr

    Streamlined digital identity verification solution

    • Strong investor(s)
    • Serial founder(s)
    • Year founded

      2020

    • HQ

      London, United Kingdom

    • Latest round

      Seed
      8.2m / Apr 2022

    • Total funding

      11.8m

  • Nano Corp logo

    Sifted score

    6.92
    -

    Nano Corp

    Enhanced network security detection technology.

    • Strong investor(s)
    • Serial founder(s)
    • Year founded

      2019

    • HQ

      Paris, France

    • Latest round

      Seed
      4.2m / Oct 2023

    • Total funding

      5.8m

  • Mindgard logo

    Sifted score

    6.87
    -

    Mindgard

    Securing AI models from vulnerabilities.

    • Strong investor(s)
    • Year founded

      2022

    • HQ

      Lancaster, United Kingdom

    • Latest round

      Seed
      3.6m / Sep 2023

    • Total funding

      3.6m

  • Sitehop logo

    Sifted score

    6.77
    -

    Sitehop

    Hardware-enforced encryption for secure communication.

    • Strong investor(s)
    • Serial founder(s)
    • Year founded

      2021

    • HQ

      Sheffield, England

    • Latest round

      Seed
      6m / Feb 2024

    • Total funding

      7.2m

  • Coincover logo

    Sifted score

    6.71
    -

    Coincover

    Securing crypto and blockchain technology.

    • Year founded

      2018

    • HQ

      Cardiff, United Kingdom

    • Latest round

      Early VC
      27.3m / Feb 2023

    • Total funding

      36.1m

Related articles

How Spain has emerged as one of Europe’s most dynamic tech ecosystems
Sponsored by

June 29, 2026

How Spain has emerged as one of Europe’s most dynamic tech ecosystems

How Spain has emerged as one of Europe’s most dynamic tech ecosystems
Sponsored by ICEX – Invest in Spain
Exclusive: British Business Bank to back UK scaleups with £400m per year

June 29, 2026

Exclusive: British Business Bank to back UK scaleups with £400m per year

By Maya Dharampal-Hornby

Pro

One simple and radical idea to transform Britain’s tech sector
GovernmentSifted View

June 29, 2026

One simple and radical idea to transform Britain’s tech sector

Headshot of John Thornhill, Sifted's cofounder and editorial director.
By John Thornhill

Pro

European deeptech investment hits annual record in just six months
DeeptechSifted data

June 29, 2026

European deeptech investment hits annual record in just six months

By Jonathan Sinclair and Federico Scolari

Pro

Berlin’s Peec AI targeting $200m valuation in new fundraise, sources say

June 26, 2026

Berlin’s Peec AI targeting $200m valuation in new fundraise, sources say

Peec AI cofounders from left to right: Tobias Siwonia, Marius Meiners and Daniel Drabo. Courtesy of Peec AI
By Anne SradersFreya Pratty and Maya Dharampal-Hornby

Pro

Revolut dials back remote work for graduates

June 26, 2026

Revolut dials back remote work for graduates

The fintech giant has long held a ‘remote-first’ approach for all employees

By Damisola Sulaiman
The seed rounds you may have missed in H1

June 26, 2026

The seed rounds you may have missed in H1

The seed rounds you may have missed in H1
By Éanna Kelly

Pro

The voice-controlled drones startup backed by Lakestar and Seedcamp
Defence techInterview

June 26, 2026

The voice-controlled drones startup backed by Lakestar and Seedcamp

Lukas Köstler, CEO of SE3 Labs
By Anne Sraders

Pro

The French & Benelux startups making €100m+ in revenue
Startup lifeLeaderboard

June 26, 2026

The French & Benelux startups making €100m+ in revenue

Naboo's founding team. Credit: Jules Despretz
By Ruggero Di Spigna

Pro

Brent Hoberman on UK tech post-Starmer: 'Are we going to tax everyone to high hell?'

June 25, 2026

Brent Hoberman on UK tech post-Starmer: 'Are we going to tax everyone to high hell?'

By Maya Dharampal-Hornby
What it actually takes to scale AI in Europe: ‘The best founders aren’t building for the next funding round’

June 25, 2026

What it actually takes to scale AI in Europe: ‘The best founders aren’t building for the next funding round’

What it actually takes to scale AI in Europe: ‘The best founders aren’t building for the next funding round’
Sponsored by Tencent
Health unicorn Alan raises €480m Series G round led by Prosus

June 25, 2026

Health unicorn Alan raises €480m Series G round led by Prosus

By Martin Coulter
N26 hits profitability following leadership shakeup

June 25, 2026

N26 hits profitability following leadership shakeup

The German neobank had a rocky 2025 with management and regulatory issues

By Damisola Sulaiman
Visionaries general partner Judith Dada joins AI startup Langdock as co-CEO

June 25, 2026

Visionaries general partner Judith Dada joins AI startup Langdock as co-CEO

Visionaries general partner Judith Dada joins AI startup Langdock as co-CEO
By Anne Sraders
Exclusive: British Business Bank backs 10 VC funds with £90m pot

June 25, 2026

Exclusive: British Business Bank backs 10 VC funds with £90m pot

By Maya Dharampal-Hornby
Exclusive: British Business Bank eyes stake in EU’s €5bn Scaleup Fund
Exclusive

June 25, 2026

Exclusive: British Business Bank eyes stake in EU’s €5bn Scaleup Fund

UK finance minister Rachel Reeves.
By Maya Dharampal-Hornby and Freya Pratty

Pro

Europe’s investors eye nuclear startups amid ‘massive scramble’ for sovereign energy

June 25, 2026

Europe’s investors eye nuclear startups amid ‘massive scramble’ for sovereign energy

Europe’s investors eye nuclear startups amid ‘massive scramble’ for sovereign energy
By Anne Sraders

Pro

Forget FAANG. Europe needs to bet on BRIOCHE!

June 25, 2026

Forget FAANG. Europe needs to bet on BRIOCHE!

BRIOCHE
By Martin Coulter
17 techies share their advice for thriving in the hybrid AI-human office

June 24, 2026

17 techies share their advice for thriving in the hybrid AI-human office

17 techies share their advice for thriving in the hybrid AI-human office
By Éanna Kelly
Car subscription company Finn becomes Germany’s newest unicorn
EVsNews

June 24, 2026

Car subscription company Finn becomes Germany’s newest unicorn

By Éanna Kelly
Records broken as eight European startups raised $1bn+ rounds in 2026
Venture capitalSifted data

June 24, 2026

Records broken as eight European startups raised $1bn+ rounds in 2026

By Federico Scolari

Pro

Startups are relocating the wrong person
Opinion

June 24, 2026

Startups are relocating the wrong person

Startups are relocating the wrong person
By Maryanne Caughey
'Europe needs this revolution': How Revolut People is selling Silicon Valley's performance culture
FintechInterview

June 24, 2026

'Europe needs this revolution': How Revolut People is selling Silicon Valley's performance culture

Revolut People general manager Georgian Andrei Oprisor
By Damisola Sulaiman

Pro

DeepMind handpicked this startup for its robotics accelerator. Now it’s raised an $11.7m seed round
RoboticsExclusive

June 24, 2026

DeepMind handpicked this startup for its robotics accelerator. Now it’s raised an $11.7m seed round

By Tom Nugent

Pro