Aikido, the security platform tailored for developers and SMEs, has secured $17 million in Series A funding led by Singular.vc, with participation from Notion Capital and Connect Ventures. This round follows Aikido’s $5.3 million seed funding just six months ago, positioning it as the fastest capitalized startup in Belgian history.
Founded by serial entrepreneur and CTO Willem Delbare, Aikido addresses the frustrations of dealing with cumbersome, outdated security tools that hinder developers’ productivity. The platform streamlines code and cloud security scanning, simplifying security measures for SMEs and empowering developers without the complexity of industry jargon or bureaucratic hurdles.
“Security and compliance are no longer exclusive to large enterprises; they’re becoming essential for all companies,” remarked Delbare. “For SMEs aiming to expand their customer base and venture into larger markets, security responsibilities often rest on developers’ shoulders.”
Aikido tackles this challenge head-on with its unified platform, offering critical security features in a user-friendly interface and adopting a freemium self-service model. This approach enables developers to efficiently manage security tasks, effectively functioning as security engineers.
Henri Tilloy, leading the round at Singular.vc, praised Aikido’s innovative approach to security. “Aikido stands out with its simplicity, reliance on open-source solutions, and ease of setup and usage, while seamlessly addressing company compliance and security requirements,” Tilloy noted.
Since its launch in April 2023, Aikido has garnered over 3,000 organizational users and 6,000 developers. The platform’s rapid adoption includes a recent partnership with Visma, which selected Aikido to safeguard its portfolio comprising over 175 companies.
With 30% of its clientele based in the US, Aikido has its sights set on the global market, aiming to assist developers and SMEs worldwide in enhancing their security posture. The fresh funding will fuel platform enhancements and accelerate Aikido’s expansion onto the international stage.
