Finance
Belgian cybersecurity startup Aikido hits unicorn status with new funding round
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 14, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 14, 2026
By Supantha Mukherjee
STOCKHOLM, Jan 14 - Belgium's Aikido Security has raised $60 million from investors led by tech-focused private equity firm DST Global at a valuation of $1 billion, the cybersecurity startup said on Wednesday, making it among Europe's first new unicorns of 2026.
Founded in 2022, Aikido's security software helps developers detect and address risk automatically. It counts mobile app and game developer Niantic, fintech Revolut and music streaming platform SoundCloud among its customers.
"Aikido focuses on developers. The product is really meant for people who write software," CEO Willem Delbare told Reuters in an interview. "You could see it as guardrails for writing secure software, especially when you're using AI."
Aikido's latest investor DST was also an early backer of companies including Meta, Spotify, and Alibaba.
"AI is having a material impact on software development, and that impact will only grow. So we need new approaches to security like what Aikido is doing," Tom Stafford, managing partner at DST Global, told Reuters.
Aikido, which had raised $24 million before the latest round, saw its revenue grow five-fold last year, with around half coming from the United States. Its customer base, meanwhile, nearly tripled.
(Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm; Editing by Joe Bavier)
A unicorn startup is a privately held company valued at over $1 billion. This term is often used in the venture capital industry to denote successful startups that achieve significant market valuation.
Venture capital is a form of private equity financing provided by investors to startups and small businesses with long-term growth potential. It typically involves high risk but can yield high returns.
Cybersecurity refers to the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks. It involves measures to safeguard data integrity, confidentiality, and availability.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. It involves learning, reasoning, and self-correction to perform tasks.
Customer growth refers to the increase in the number of customers a business has over a specific period. It is a key indicator of business success and market demand.
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