Israeli venture capital firm Glilot Capital Partners has successfully raised $500 million to support local entrepreneurs and rapidly growing startups in cybersecurity, enterprise software, and AI tools. The capital was primarily sourced from large financial institutions in the US and Europe, signaling strong confidence in Israel’s tech ecosystem despite international criticism of the country’s actions during the ongoing Gaza conflict, which has raised concerns about potential impacts on business relations with key trading partners.
Glilot co-founder and managing partner Kobi Samboursky emphasized the firm’s commitment to the Israeli startup ecosystem and its strategy of backing both local and global talent. The raised funds are earmarked for early-stage startups as well as more mature tech companies, enabling Glilot to continue investing in exceptional entrepreneurs while also making follow-on investments. The firm’s total assets under management now stand at approximately $1 billion.
Founded in 2011 by Samboursky, Arik Kleinstein, and Nofar Amikam, Glilot has a track record of investing in dozens of Israeli companies, including notable exits such as CyberX, acquired by Microsoft in 2020, and Cider Security, acquired by Palo Alto Networks in 2022. These successes highlight the firm’s influence in fostering innovative tech companies within Israel.
Israel has increasingly solidified its reputation as a cybersecurity hub, with its startups attracting roughly one-third of global private investments in the sector. In 2024, the country’s cybersecurity industry drew $4 billion in investments, more than doubling the previous year, despite ongoing conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. High-profile acquisitions, such as Palo Alto Networks’ $25 billion purchase of CyberArk and Google’s $32 billion acquisition of cybersecurity unicorn Wiz, underscore the international appeal and value of Israeli tech firms.
Glilot’s new funding round strengthens its capacity to support innovative companies at both early and growth stages, positioning the firm to continue driving the expansion of Israel’s cybersecurity, enterprise software, and AI industries while cultivating a pipeline of globally competitive talent.
