Highlights:

  • ai’s platform, NodeZero, is an AI-driven autonomous penetration testing solution that continuously simulates real-world cyberattacks across both network and cloud environments.
  • Over 3,000 organizations currently rely on NodeZero to perform penetration testing.

Autonomous security solutions startup Horizon3.ai Inc. raised USD 100 million in the latest funding to enhance partner ecosystem, expand platform features, and boost adoption in the US federal marketplace.

Founded in 2019 by Snehal Antani, former Chief Technology Officer at Splunk Inc., and Anthony Pillitiere, former Deputy CTO at the U.S. Special Operations Command, Horizon3.ai delivers automated penetration testing tools. These tools help organizations identify security weaknesses by simulating cyberattacks—allowing them to view their systems from an attacker’s perspective and fix vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

Horizon3.ai’s platform, NodeZero, is an AI-driven autonomous penetration testing solution that continuously simulates real-world cyberattacks across both network and cloud environments. It independently identifies and exploits vulnerabilities—such as weak credentials, misconfigurations, and exposed services—by chaining attack paths much like a human hacker, but with the speed and scale of automation and no reliance on pre-written scripts.

Unlike traditional vulnerability scanners, NodeZero executes complete attack chains and post-exploitation techniques, including lateral movement, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration, all without human intervention. It then delivers actionable insights that show what assets could be compromised and provides clear guidance on remediation. This enables security teams to focus on actual threat exposure rather than theoretical risks, improving both response and resource allocation.

According to Horizon3.ai, “NodeZero doesn’t simulate adversaries — it thinks and acts like one.” Every cyberattack simulation run by NodeZero on production systems generates training data that continuously refines and enhances its algorithms—building a compounding data advantage that, according to the company, is unmatched by any other platform.

Horizon3.ai reported significant momentum, with annual recurring revenue doubling year-over-year, though the exact figures were not disclosed. Over 3,000 organizations currently rely on NodeZero to perform penetration testing.

The Series D funding round was led by New Enterprise Associates Inc., with additional participation from Craft Ventures Management, SignalFire, and 9Yards Capital. As part of the investment, Lila Tretikov—partner and head of AI strategy at NEA and former deputy CTO at Microsoft Corp.—will join the Horizon3.ai board of directors.

“What drew us to Horizon3.ai is the clarity of their mission and the speed at which they’re executing it,” said NEA Partner Aaron Jacobson. “They are defining a new security category — autonomous security — and are already the go-to solution for red and blue teams alike.”