Top 18 Cyberdefense startups

Updated: Oct 14, 2026
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These are companies that have contracts with Defense or Military organizations to cyber protect their operations.
1
Diraq
Country: Australia | Funding: $114.8M
Diraq develops quantum computers utilizing modified silicon transistors, making them suitable for utility-scale applications. It has designed its quantum processors so that they can be churned out with the same equipment used to manufacture billions of chips for phones and computers each year. The startups takes part in the quantum computing program run by the US Department of Defence
2
Lockheed Martin
Country: USA | Funding: $8.3B
Lockheed Martin is a security company that engages in the research, development, and manufacture of technology systems and products, including HIMARS, ATACMS, BLACK HAWK Helicopter, F-16 Fighting Falcon.
3
Booz Allen
Country: USA | Funding: $4.2B
Booz Allen delivers tomorrow’s technologies at the heart of the defense mission: Multidomain integration for command and control, Immersive training analytics solutions, Geopolitical analysis to anticipate risks, local storage syber defense solution.
4
Raytheon
Country: USA | Funding: $3.2M
Developer of the air defense systems (Patriot), missile systems (Tomahawk), man-portable air-defense systems Stinger.
5
SandboxAQ
Country: USA | Funding: $1.5B
SandboxAQ develops several AI-based technologies for the military industry, including the AQtive Guard platform for managing cryptography and non-human-based identification, which provides cybersecurity for national IT infrastructure. The company also creates AQNav quantum devices for the Defense Innovation Unit for assured positioning, navigation and timing (APNT). QNav provides a jam-resistant, all-weather, terrain-independent, passive solution in situations where GPS signals are unavailable, jammed or spoofed. SandboxAQ is also conducting a joint battery analysis program with the US Army.
6
Code Metal
Country: USA | Funding: $184.5M
Code Metal is an AI-enabled platform providing verifiable code translation and optimization for edge development and code modernization. The startup has Pentagon deal to modernize and AI-enable WarMatrix, the military’s wargaming simulation environment. The platform is the Air Force’s push to take wargaming from a slow, largely manual exercise into a fast, software-driven simulation environment. The idea behind WarMatrix is that rather than using pen, paper, whiteboards, and tables, the program can model a campaign when you ask it something like, “What happens in a Taiwan scenario if we buy 200 more CCAs instead of 20 more fighters?”
7
Shift5
Country: USA | Funding: $180.5M
Shift5 is a cybersecurity company that provides hardware and software solutions to defend operational technology (OT) platforms.
8
Defense Unicorns
Country: USA | Funding: $171.5M
Defense Unicorns is a software startup that provides open-source software and AI capabilities for National Security systems.
9
BAE Systems
Country: UK | Funding: $158.3M
BAE Systems designs, develops, and supports defense and aerospace systems used in the air, on land, at sea, and in space.
10
QOMPLX
Country: USA | Funding: $107M
QOMPLX' Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) solution continuously validates to prevent network takeovers.
11
Recorded Future
Country: USA | Funding: $79M
Recorded Future develops a single intelligence platform that empowers security teams with real-time alerting and insights into geopolitical events allowing to address the risks immediately.
12
EclecticIQ
Country: Netherlands | Funding: €65.4M
EclecticIQ offers its threat intelligence, hunting and response technology for governmental purposes to help organisations and governments hunt for, detect and respond to cyber risks that threaten their operations.
13
DeNexus
Country: USA | Funding: $33.1M
DeNexus provides a full stack solution for OT cyber risk quantification and management.
14
Sense Defence
Country: UK | Funding: $300K
Sense Defence develops Next Generation Web Security Platform
15
Decent Cybersecurity
Country: Slovakia | Funding: €100K
Decent Cybersecurity provides cutting-edge, quantum-resistant cybersecurity solutions that protect vital information and assets, ensuring peace of mind in an age where digital threats are ever-present and increasingly sophisticated.
16
ARMS Cyber
Country: USA
ARMS Cyber provides cybersecurity defense solutions for organizations.
17
Peraton
Country: USA
Fearlessly solving the world's most complex challenges to keep people safe and secure.
18
GovSky
Country: USA
GovSky builds a cybersecurity compliance software platform for defense contractors.
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Bruce Makowsky
Editor: Bruce Makowsky
Bruce Makowsky has covered military, cyber and IT news since 2009, with a focus on U.S. Navy and Marine Corps operations, acquisition programs and budgets. In particular he worked for Inside Defense. Bruce holds a Master of Science degree in journalism from Boston University. Bruce is also an award-winning photographer, renowned for his captivating images that have earned him numerous accolades and widespread recognition in the photography community. You can contact Bruce at makowsky(at)militarystartups(dot)com