Automotive Cybersecurity Startup GuardKnox Raises $21 Million

Automotive cybersecurity startup Guardknox Cyber Technologies Ltd. announced on Tuesday the completion of a $21 million series A funding round. The round was led by Fraser McCombs Capital, with participation from investors including French auto parts manufacturer Faurecia, Chinese automaker SAIC, Shanghai-based venture capital fund Glory Ventures, NextLeap Ventures, Nasdaq-listed automotive investment company VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., and Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play Ventures. According to the company, this round brings its total funding raised to $24 million. Guardknox said it will use the funds to expand its research and development team and support global expansion.

Founded in 2016 by Israel Air Force veterans Moshe Shlisel, Dionis Teshler, and Idan Nadav, Guardknox develops an end-to-end automotive cybersecurity product that includes both software and hardware. Guardknox’s technology, which automatically analyzes all messages entering a vehicle’s networks in real time, was adapted from methodologies used to defend fighter jets from cyber attacks, the company said.