AI and the Iran war are two of the most disruptive forces affecting businesses in 2026. Bold, an Israeli cybersecurity startup that’s just emerged from stealth with $40 million in funding, is keenly familiar with both.
Loading audio narration…
The Tel Aviv-based startup has developed AI software to protect enterprise devices like laptops from the rising threat of cyberattacks.
It’s also been building during a time of war, which the startup’s 35-year-old cofounder and CEO, Nati Hazut, told Business Insider gives Israel’s tech sector a sense of “resilience.”
“It’s part of our reality, and I think it’s part of our strength,” Hazut said.
Since the outbreak of the war, Israel has been hit by retaliatory Iranian strikes, which for some businesses has meant taking cover in bomb shelters. Despite the disruption, Hazut says the team has continued to operate and build new features.
“Living without it would be better, and this is what we are all wishing for,” Hazut added.
Bold has developed AI agents to install on employee devices — such as laptops, smartphones, or tablets — that are a potential entry point for cyber threats.
In cybersecurity, these are known as endpoints, and are one of the most common ways for hackers to break in. Hazut says that “AI fundamentally changed” how enterprises think about endpoints and the risks associated with them.
Bold
Once installed, Bold’s AI agent monitors for unusual activity on that device, such as how a user is interacting with apps and data. If the AI agent detects user behaviour that’s out of the ordinary, it doesn’t just suggest to the organization block or allow an action. Instead, it “communicates with the user” to suggest other actions and explains the risks, Hazut said.
The AI runs directly on the devices and doesn’t require an internet connection. By not sending information to and from the cloud, it reduces latency and lowers privacy risks, Bold says. The company uses smaller AI models, which means the devices don’t require powerful AI chips to run.
‘The market is used to us’
Hazut, who previously founded two other cybersecurity ventures, cofounded Bold with Hadar Krasner and Omri Mallis.
Bold’s customers include US enterprise companies Shutterfly and Tekion, as well as other Fortune 500 firms. Hazut said the startup is particularly focused on highly regulated industries.
“One of the biggest challenges with endpoint security is protecting users without slowing them down,” said Jeff Simon, CISO at Shutterfly. “As AI becomes part of daily workflows, Bold helps us apply security in a way that’s effective but unobtrusive, so teams can keep moving fast without creating new risks.”
The investment was led by Red Dot Capital Partners, with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners and Picture Capital. Bold plans to use the $40 million in funding to advance its go-to-market strategy and scale globally, with a focus on the US.
Hazut said that Bold began the fundraising process before the war with Iran broke out, but that investors are typically understanding when regional conflicts flare up, and instead focused on the company and its technology.
“I feel like the market is kind of like used to us, and it’s kind of agnostic to the situation,” Hazut said.
