Upwind raises 250m to scale runtime-first cloud security

Cloud security startup Upwind has secured an impressive $250 million in a Series B funding round, bringing its total funding to $430 million and solidifying its position as a key player in the rapidly expanding cloud-native security market. The company has experienced remarkable growth, with a reported 900% year-over-year revenue increase and a 200% rise in customer logos.

For readers of eeNews Europe involved in cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, and AI-driven platforms, this funding round sheds light on the direction of enterprise security investments. Key trends such as runtime visibility, AI-driven protection, and closer integration with hyperscale cloud platforms are becoming essential in securing modern systems.

Funding Supports "Runtime-First" Strategy

Leading the Series B round is Bessemer Venture Partners, joined by Salesforce Ventures and Picture Capital. Existing investors like Greylock, Cyberstarts, Craft Ventures, and TCV also participated. Upwind views this funding as the beginning of "The Next Wave," with a focus on expanding globally to provide runtime-powered cloud security as AI workloads and real-time applications become more prevalent.

Amiram Shachar, CEO and co-founder of Upwind, emphasized the need for a new approach in cloud security, stating, “The next era of cloud security requires a fundamentally different approach, centered in real-time signals. That’s actually the only way to protect the cloud in the new era of AI.”

Positioning itself as a disruptor in the cloud security landscape, Upwind challenges traditional tools that rely on static configurations. Instead, its platform prioritizes runtime evidence to minimize alert noise and pinpoint actual vulnerabilities in live environments.

Capitalizing on CNAPP Market Growth

Operating in the rapidly expanding Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) market, Upwind is well-positioned for success. Research firm Frost & Sullivan projects that the global CNAPP market will approach $19 billion by 2029, growing at a rate of approximately 28% annually. Gartner predicts that by 2029, 40% of enterprises implementing zero trust in cloud environments will depend on CNAPP solutions.

Following a $100 million funding round last year, Upwind has doubled its workforce to over 300 employees and expanded its reach beyond the US, UK, and Israel into Asia-Pacific regions like Japan, India, and Singapore. Notable customers include Siemens, Roku, Wix, and Waste Management, with reported security alert reductions of up to 98%.

Strategic Partnerships and Product Expansion

To facilitate large-scale deployments, Upwind has broadened its partner network by adding over 100 new ISV, MSP, and reseller partners. The company has also announced a strategic collaboration with NVIDIA and deeper integrations with major hyperscalers such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.

With the latest funding injection, Upwind aims to accelerate product development in data, AI, and code, extending its runtime-first approach closer to developers to detect misconfigurations earlier in the software lifecycle. As the demand for AI-driven cloud workloads continues to rise, Upwind is banking on real-time context, rather than static analysis, to shape the future of cloud security.