Aikido Security's $60M Raise Signals Investor Bet on Developer-Centric Security

Belgian startup Aikido Security has raised $60 million in a Series B funding round led by DST Global, catapulting its valuation to $1 billion. This investment signals heightened venture capital interest in developer-first security solutions as organizations scramble to address vulnerabilities earlier in the software lifecycle.

Aikido Security automates security guardrails by scanning code repositories, cloud infrastructure, and dependencies for vulnerabilities. Unlike traditional security tools that generate alerts requiring manual triage, Aikido integrates directly into developer environments like VS Code and CI/CD pipelines. It prioritizes critical risks, provides one-click fixes for common issues (e.g., exposed credentials), and blocks insecure code merges. The platform supports Python, JavaScript, Java, and Terraform, aligning with modern tech stacks.

The funding arrives amid escalating pressure on engineering teams to accelerate releases without compromising security. High-profile breaches traced to overlooked code flaws—like the recent CircleCI OAuth token compromise—highlight gaps in reactive security models. DST Global’s investment suggests confidence in Aikido’s approach to shifting security left, a trend gaining momentum as DevOps cycles shorten. Competitors like Snyk and GitLab have seen similar investor enthusiasm, though Aikido emphasizes eliminating noise by suppressing low-risk vulnerabilities that plague other scanners.

Critics question whether automated guardrails can replace nuanced human judgment. False positives remain a pain point industry-wide, and some DevOps teams report tool fatigue from juggling multiple security integrations. Aikido’s reliance on automated fixes also raises concerns about unintended side effects in complex systems. Meanwhile, regulatory scrutiny around software supply chains (e.g., the EU Cyber Resilience Act) could force broader adoption of such tools, but compliance requirements vary globally.

Aikido’s valuation surge reflects a maturing market for embedded security. With this funding, the startup plans to expand its vulnerability database and deepen IDE integrations. Yet challenges persist: differentiating in a crowded field and proving ROI beyond vulnerability counts. As one CISO noted, 'Tools like this excel at catching low-hanging fruit, but cultural change—not just automation—drives real security maturity.'

This round positions Aikido alongside cybersecurity heavyweights but underscores a broader shift: investors are betting that the next frontier of software defense lies in the developer’s terminal, not the SOC.