Semperis, a company specialising in identity-driven cyber resilience solutions, has announced securing $125 million in additional growth financing. This news follows their successful Series C round of $200 million led by KKR in 2022. The latest funding, provided by J.P. Morgan and Hercules Capital, fuels Semperis’ continued investment in product development and global expansion to meet the growing demand for its identity security solutions.
Not too long ago, we also reported about how one UK’s cybersecurity provider OnSecurity raised £5.5M to scale penetration testing platform.
What is the startup known for
Semperis seems to have established itself as a prominent player in the cybersecurity industry, consistently ranking on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 list for four years running. Their core offering, the industry’s most comprehensive identity system defence platform, is trusted by leading enterprises and government agencies worldwide. This platform is designed to significantly reduce the success rate of ransomware attacks and other cyber threats.
According to a 2024 Forrester Total Economic Impact Report on Semperis, deploying their platform can lead to significant cost savings for organisations. The report highlights potential benefits such as a 90% reduction in downtime, a 40% decrease in time spent manually monitoring for threats, and an overall decrease in cyber risk throughout the attack lifecycle.
“Semperis stands out as a leader in the critical area of identity system defence,” commented Scott Bluestein, CEO and CIO at Hercules Capital. “Their approach, leveraging machine learning for attack prevention, detection, and response, is crucial for leading organisations worldwide who rely on Semperis to safeguard their hybrid Active Directory environment, a critical element of IT infrastructure and a prime target for attackers.”
Strengthening leadership for growth
Coinciding with the funding announcement, Semperis bolstered its leadership team with the appointment of three new C-suite executives, each bringing extensive experience in cybersecurity IPOs and managing public companies.
Jeff Bray, the new Chief Financial Officer, boasts a proven track record leading finance teams at cybersecurity firms in both public and private markets. His experience includes companies like Rapid7, Imprivata, and Invicti Security, where he played a key role in scaling them into successful software businesses. Bray has also been involved in multiple acquisitions and managed over $1 billion in capital market transactions.
Mike DeGaetano, the incoming Chief Revenue Officer, brings a wealth of experience in sales leadership. He began his career at Symantec and has a history of leading high-performing teams at prominent cybersecurity companies like RSA (both pre and post-IPO), Zscaler, Forcepoint, and most recently Broadcom. At Broadcom, he held the position of Global Head of Sales, responsible for establishing the cybersecurity sales team after the Symantec acquisition.
Annabel Lewis, appointed Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, brings 20 years of experience in the cybersecurity and technology sectors. Her background encompasses involvement in numerous mergers, acquisitions, IPO initiatives, international expansion efforts, and legal and compliance matters. Lewis previously held executive positions at Trustwave, Singtel, and Onapsis, where she oversaw legal, compliance, corporate information security, audits, strategic partnerships, and business development.
“CISOs [Chief Information Security Officers] are increasingly prioritising securing and building resilience into their identity infrastructure,” commented Semperis CFO Jeff Bray. “This has led to a surge in demand for specialised solutions that protect hybrid AD and Entra ID environments. With the additional support from J.P. Morgan and Hercules Capital, alongside our existing team of prominent investors, Semperis is well-positioned to continue driving innovation and disrupting cyberattacks. This growth financing strengthens our financial standing, allowing us to accelerate investment in R&D and expand our global footprint to effectively meet the evolving market demands.”
What we think about the startup
Semperis’ recent funding and leadership team expansion highlight the growing importance of identity-driven security solutions in today’s threat landscape. With a focus on innovation and global expansion, Semperis positions itself to be a key player in this rapidly evolving market.
However, it is important to note that the company faces competition from other established cybersecurity firms and emerging startups also offering identity security solutions. The ongoing development of the market and Semperis’ ability to execute its growth strategy will determine its long-term success.
