About
Gili Raanan is a seasoned cybersecurity investor and the founder of Cyberstarts, a venture capital fund established in 2018 to support early-stage cyber innovators. With a portfolio that includes Wiz, Armis, Island, Fireblocks, and Cyera, Cyberstarts has become a key player in advancing the cybersecurity ecosystem.
Gili’s career began in Israel’s elite Unit 8200, where he served for a decade and received the Israel Defense Presidential Prize and the Innovation Award. An engineer by training, he is known for inventing CAPTCHA and co-developing the first web application firewall (WAF), and he holds more than 10 U.S. patents in cybersecurity and enterprise software.
After founding and exiting two enterprise software companies acquired by EMC and IBM, Gili joined Sequoia Capital in 2009. As a General Partner, he led investments in cybersecurity and infrastructure across Israel’s tech landscape for nearly a decade before launching Cyberstarts.
Under his leadership, Cyberstarts has raised over $720 million across five funds and invested in 28 companies now valued at a combined $55 billion. Gili Raanan remains actively involved in guiding founders and currently sits on the boards of 10 companies. He is based in Mikhmoret, Israel, and is also a minority owner of Hapoel Tel Aviv’s basketball team.
Portfolio
Investor Intelligence Q&A
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- What is Gili Raanan's primary investment focus?
- Gili Raanan is a seasoned cybersecurity investor and the founder of Cyberstarts, a venture capital fund established in 2018 to support early-stage cyber innovators. His portfolio includes notable companies like Wiz and Armis.
- What is the total capital raised by Cyberstarts under Gili Raanan's leadership?
- Under Gili Raanan's leadership, Cyberstarts has raised over $720 million across five funds.
- How many companies has Cyberstarts invested in, and what is their combined valuation?
- Cyberstarts has invested in 28 companies, which are now valued at a combined $55 billion.
- What is Gili Raanan's background before founding Cyberstarts?
- Gili Raanan served for a decade in Israel’s elite Unit 8200, where he received the Israel Defense Presidential Prize. He also founded and exited two enterprise software companies acquired by EMC and IBM, and was a General Partner at Sequoia Capital from 2009, leading cybersecurity and infrastructure investments.
- What notable inventions or patents are associated with Gili Raanan?
- Gili Raanan is known for inventing CAPTCHA and co-developing the first web application firewall (WAF). He holds more than 10 U.S. patents in cybersecurity and enterprise software.
- What is a recent significant operational development for Cyberstarts related to funding?
- In September 2025, Cyberstarts closed its second $380 million Opportunity Fund to back the next stage of cybersecurity breakouts. Additionally, in July 2025, Cyberstarts launched a $300 million Employee Liquidity Fund to help startup employees cash out.
- Has Gili Raanan had any recent exits from his portfolio?
- Yes, in December 2024, Aporia, a company in Gili Raanan's portfolio, was acquired by Coralogix for $50 million.
- What is Gili Raanan's involvement with portfolio companies?
- Gili Raanan remains actively involved in guiding founders and currently sits on the boards of 10 companies.