A two-year-old cyberwar startup hits $1 billion building offensive tools for the Pentagon
Twenty becomes a unicorn selling AI systems built to carry out US cyber attacks, a corner of national security that venture capital has mostly stayed out of.
Twenty becomes a unicorn selling AI systems built to carry out US cyber attacks, a corner of national security that venture capital has mostly stayed out of.
Twenty, an Arlington, Virginia company that builds offensive cyber tools for the U.S. military and intelligence agencies, raised a $100 million Series B at a $1 billion valuation, Axios reported. Accel led the round, with Point72 Ventures, Caffeinated Capital and Friends & Family Capital joining, the company said. The financing brings Twenty's total to $138 million, about 18 months after its 2024 launch.
The product is AI-enabled, end-to-end systems meant to give operators the speed and scale to disrupt threats at their origin, with human judgment kept in the loop, according to Twenty. Chief executive Joe Lin said the company was "founded to industrialize cyber warfare," and that for the first time an administration is calling for offensive cyber to be a national priority to change adversary behavior. The White House has urged using the full range of offensive cyber operations to disrupt adversary networks, the firm's announcement stated.
Twenty's founders ran the last big exit in the field. Lin, Leo Olson and Pete Sorrentino built Expanse's national-security division through its $1.25 billion sale to Palo Alto Networks in 2020, GovCon Wire reported. In-Q-Tel, the CIA's strategic investment arm, backed Twenty early.
The round extends a wave of venture money into national security. Investor appetite for cyber and defense technology is widening, Reuters wrote, and Twenty says it is the first venture-backed company built around offensive cyber rather than defense.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Twenty raise, and at what valuation?
Twenty raised a $100 million Series B led by Accel at a $1 billion valuation, bringing its total funding to $138 million, per the company's announcement and Axios.
What does Twenty build?
AI-enabled, end-to-end offensive cyber systems for the U.S. military and intelligence community, designed to keep human judgment in the loop while using AI and automation for speed and scale, according to the company.
Who founded Twenty?
Co-founder and CEO Joe Lin, with Leo Olson and Pete Sorrentino, who built Expanse's national-security division before its $1.25 billion sale to Palo Alto Networks in 2020, per GovCon Wire.
Why is an offensive cyber startup notable?
Twenty describes itself as America's first venture-backed cyber warfare company, building tools to attack adversary networks rather than defend against intrusions, work that has largely sat inside government agencies, per the company.
Who are Twenty's backers?
Accel led the Series B, with Point72 Ventures, Caffeinated Capital and Friends & Family Capital participating; earlier backing came from In-Q-Tel, the CIA's strategic investment arm, and General Catalyst, per the company and GovCon Wire.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.