Team8 Closes $365 Million Fund to Back AI Native Startups
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Team8 Closes $365 Million Fund to Back AI Native Startups

The new capital will back Seed and Series A founders building AI-native companies.

8/12/2026
Ghita Khalfaoui
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Team8 has announced $365 million in new capital to support early-stage, AI-native companies. This funding arrives as enterprises rapidly adopt artificial intelligence, often outpacing their ability to manage associated security risks. The global venture fund aims to back founders building the essential infrastructure and cybersecurity solutions for this new technological landscape.


Fund Details and Early Success

The new capital includes $265 million for Team8 Capital's third fund and over $100 million for follow-on investments. This latest close elevates the firm's total assets under management to nearly $2 billion across eight funds since 2014. The fund will target Seed and Series A founders in cybersecurity, software infrastructure, fintech, and digital health.

Led by Managing Partners Sarit Firon and Liran Grinberg, the fund has already demonstrated its strategic insight. It recorded its first exit before the final close, following the reported acquisition of portfolio company Koi Security by Palo Alto Networks. This early success highlights the firm's ability to identify and nurture high-potential startups in critical technology sectors.

Addressing the AI Adoption Gap

The fund's launch is timed to address a critical market need, as AI technology evolves faster than enterprises can safely absorb it. Rapid advancements are forcing organizations to rethink their products, workflows, and risk models. This creates a gap between technological capability and the implementation of necessary governance and security controls.

Recent data highlights the urgency of this challenge for enterprise leaders. A survey at Team8's CISO Village Summit revealed that while 97% of organizations have begun adopting AI agents, their confidence in securing them is low. This disparity underscores the pressing need for robust solutions to manage the risks associated with this powerful technology.

A Founder-Focused Investment Strategy

Sarit Firon, Managing Partner at Team8, noted that while AI makes developing technology easier, building an enduring company is harder. She emphasized that lasting advantage will stem from solving fundamental enterprise problems that remain relevant across technology cycles. This philosophy guides the firm's focus on backing the next generation of category-defining companies.

Team8 will deploy its new fund to support founders building foundational AI-native infrastructure and cybersecurity companies. The firm is concentrating on technologies enterprises will depend on as AI reshapes the tech landscape, including orchestration and data security. Portfolio companies will also gain access to Team8's extensive company-building platform and enterprise network.

Vision for Future Enterprise Technology

Co-Founder Liran Grinberg stated that investors are backing the firm's ability to identify crucial enterprise problems ahead of the market. He reiterated the belief that deep industry context, not just capital, is the most critical resource for early-stage companies. This approach allows Team8 to transform insights into companies that define entire technology categories.

As artificial intelligence accelerates change, Team8 sees immense opportunity in the software and security layers. These foundational elements are what will allow enterprises to adopt new AI technologies with confidence. The firm is excited to back the next wave of founders who are building these essential solutions for the modern enterprise.


Team8's new $365 million fund represents a significant commitment to shaping the future of enterprise AI. By focusing on critical infrastructure and security, the firm is positioning itself to support the foundational companies of the AI era. This strategic investment underscores the growing importance of enabling secure and confident AI adoption across global industries.