Ballistic Ventures Seeks $490M for New Cybersecurity Funds
Cybersecurity venture capital firm Ballistic Ventures is targeting $490 million across two new funds as artificial intelligence transforms the threat landscape.
Cybersecurity-focused venture capital firm Ballistic Ventures is working to raise $490 million across two distinct funds, according to regulatory filings submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The San Francisco-based enterprise filed to collect $360 million for its third flagship fund, matching the capitalization of its previous vehicle from 2024. Additionally, the firm is seeking $130 million for a separate investment vehicle named Ballistic Ventures Fund B. Neither fund had logged any sales at the time of the filing, and the organization declined to comment on the fundraising initiative.
Established in late 2021, Ballistic Ventures was launched by a founding team that includes former Kleiner Perkins partner Ted Schlein, former AT&T Cybersecurity president Barmak Meftah, and Roger Thornton, a co-founder of Fortify Software and AlienVault. The firm's historical connections to Kleiner Perkins help differentiate it from competitors within the sector, according to an outside cybersecurity investor. Ballistic previously launched a $300 million debut fund in 2022, raised $360 million for its second flagship fund in 2024, and secured approximately $130 million for an earlier separate vehicle called Ballistic Ventures Fund A. Its portfolio includes companies such as Talon Cyber Security, which was acquired by Palo Alto Networks, and Pangea, which was bought by CrowdStrike, alongside startups like Armadin, GetReal, Nudge Security, and Oligo Security.
The AI Security Landscape
The dual fundraising effort arrives during a period of increased activity in both cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Recent data from a JPMorgan Chase report using PitchBook figures shows that U.S. cybersecurity startups secured $11.5 billion in 2025, marking the highest total since 2022. Furthermore, AI-enabled companies represented roughly 72% of U.S. cybersecurity venture capital deals through May, compared to 36% in 2019.
At the same time, major technology providers have highlighted growing risks associated with automated systems. Microsoft's annual Digital Defense Report warned that malicious actors are increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence for tasks including phishing, social engineering, and malware development. While fundamental attack methods often remain consistent, AI enables attackers to execute operations with greater speed and scale. Conversely, the emergence of AI agents has unlocked fresh investment opportunities for security startups and the venture capital companies that fund them.
What it means for developers
For developers building security tools or integrating artificial intelligence into software stacks, the shifting threat landscape underscores the necessity of robust automated defenses and reliable underlying infrastructure. Whether you are building security agents, evaluating defense models, or testing system vulnerabilities, developers can try top AI models cheaply through one API at https://apixoai.online. As funding continues to flow into AI-enabled security solutions, understanding how to securely implement and interface with multiple language models remains an essential capability for engineering teams navigating modern development cycles.
Source: Ted Schlein’s Ballistic Ventures seeks $490M for new funds amid AI-driven cybersecurity boom — TechCrunch AI. Written by the Apixo team from that report.
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