Total amount raised
$1 Billions
Latest funding date
6/1/2019
Location
KnowBe4 has successfully raised significant funding over multiple rounds, culminating in its acquisition by Vista Equity Partners for $4.6 billion. The company specializes in security awareness training and simulated phishing attacks, serving a global clientele.
Keep reading to explore the intricacies of KnowBe4's fundraising journey and the investors backing this innovative platform.
What Is KnowBe4?
KnowBe4, founded in 2010 by Stu Sjouwerman, is headquartered in Clearwater, Florida. The company specializes in security awareness training and simulated phishing attacks, aiming to help organizations manage social engineering threats.
With a robust platform, KnowBe4 trains employees to make smarter security decisions through an Automated Security Awareness Program and Active Directory Integration. Their services are utilized by tens of thousands of organizations worldwide.
Currently, KnowBe4 employs between 1001 and 5000 people, reflecting its significant growth and global reach in the cybersecurity industry.
How Much Funding Has KnowBe4 Raised?
- Series A
- Amount Raised: $8M
- Date: February 2016
- Lead Investors: Elephant
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To expand the company's market reach and enhance its security training platform.
- Series A
- Amount Raised: $5.5M
- Date: March 2017
- Lead Investors: Not publicly disclosed
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To further develop the platform and scale operations.
- Series B
- Amount Raised: $30M
- Date: October 2017
- Lead Investors: GS Growth
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To accelerate growth and expand the customer base.
- Series C
- Amount Raised: $50M
- Date: March 2019
- Lead Investors: Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To enhance product offerings and support international expansion.
- Series C
- Amount Raised: $300M
- Date: June 2019
- Lead Investors: Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
- Valuation at Round: $1 billion
- Motivation Behind the Round: To fund global growth initiatives and platform development.
- Venture Round
- Amount Raised: Not publicly disclosed
- Date: January 2020
- Lead Investors: Not publicly disclosed
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To support ongoing growth and innovation.
- Post-IPO Equity
- Amount Raised: $300M
- Date: June 2023
- Lead Investors: Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To continue global expansion and enhance product capabilities.
Total Amount Raised: $693.5M
Current Valuation: $1 billion
Key Investors
- Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR)
- Details: KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, and credit. The firm aims to generate attractive investment returns through a disciplined investment approach and strategic partnerships.
- Investment Focus Areas: Software, security, Internet, digital media, information services
- Notable Investments: ByteDance, Epic Games, GoDaddy
- GS Growth
- Details: GS Growth is the growth equity arm of Goldman Sachs, focusing on investing in high-growth companies. The firm leverages Goldman Sachs' extensive network and resources to support its portfolio companies.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, healthcare, consumer, financial services
- Notable Investments: Uber, Spotify, Pinterest
- Elephant
- Details: Elephant is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage and growth-stage technology companies. The firm focuses on partnering with entrepreneurs to build market-leading businesses.
- Investment Focus Areas: Software, Internet, digital media
- Notable Investments: Scopely, AllTrails, TripleLift
- Vista Equity Partners
- Details: Vista Equity Partners is a leading investment firm focused on enterprise software, data, and technology-enabled businesses. The firm aims to create value through operational improvements and strategic growth initiatives.
- Investment Focus Areas: Enterprise software, data, technology-enabled services
- Notable Investments: Ping Identity, Marketo, Datto
- Ten Eleven Ventures
- Details: Ten Eleven Ventures is a venture capital firm that exclusively invests in cybersecurity companies. The firm provides capital and strategic support to help its portfolio companies grow and succeed.
- Investment Focus Areas: Cybersecurity, information security, data protection
- Notable Investments: Darktrace, Cylance, Verodin
What's Next for KnowBe4?
With a $300 million investment led by KKR, KnowBe4 is poised to capitalize on global growth initiatives and platform development. The company’s valuation at $1 billion and a customer base of over 25,000 organizations highlight the vast opportunities ahead. As cyber threats continue to evolve, the demand for effective security awareness training is expected to rise, positioning KnowBe4 for further expansion into new markets and strategic acquisitions.
Future fundraising opportunities seem promising, with continued support from investors like KKR, Elephant, and TenEleven Ventures. However, challenges such as maintaining rapid growth, scaling operations, and staying ahead of competitors in the cybersecurity space will require continuous innovation and strategic planning. The evolving nature of cyber threats will also necessitate ongoing updates to training content to ensure relevance and effectiveness.
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