Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
- Bitdefender has launched a venture unit called Bitdefender Voyager Ventures to invest in early-stage cyber and AI startups
- The venture unit will have a global mandate with a focus on Europe, including the UK, and will make investments of €500,000 to €2m per funding round
Bitdefender, a cybersecurity company based in Romania, has announced the launch of a new venture division called Bitdefender Voyager Ventures (BVV). The new division will focus on investing in early-stage cyber and AI startups, acting as a lead or co-investor at the seed or Series A stage. BVV will have a global mandate with a particular emphasis on Europe, including the UK.
The evergreen corporate venture capital initiative will make investments ranging from €500,000 to €2m per funding round, with flexibility depending on the startup’s development stage, funding needs, potential for strategic alignment, and projected growth trajectory. The fund will be financed from Bitdefender’s balance sheet, allowing for greater flexibility and control over investment strategy.
Bitdefender Voyager Ventures is not setting a specific target for the number of startups to back but will continuously invest in a handful of companies demonstrating strong potential in cybersecurity, data analytics, automation, and AI. As a leading provider of cybersecurity tools since 2001, Bitdefender aims to support innovation and entrepreneurial talent across Europe and globally through its venture unit.
Florin Talpes, co-founder and CEO of Bitdefender, expressed the company’s commitment to innovation and supporting exceptional entrepreneurial talent in the cybersecurity space. With deep experience in building a global cybersecurity business, Bitdefender Voyager Ventures aims to help founders develop innovative solutions and bring them to market successfully.
