French cybersecurity startup Riot has secured $30 million in a Series B funding round led by Left Lane Capital, with participation from existing investors Y Combinator, Base10, and FundersClub.
This new funding pushes Riot’s post-money valuation to over $170 million as the company aims to expand its employee-centric cybersecurity solutions.
From Phishing Simulations to Proactive Security
Founded to improve cybersecurity awareness, Riot initially gained traction through simulated phishing campaigns designed to educate employees about potential threats. Employees would receive realistic phishing emails, helping them recognize suspicious content and avoid security risks.
Building on this foundation, Riot introduced “Albert,” a friendly security chatbot integrated with platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams to offer real-time cybersecurity advice. The company now serves over 1 million employees across 1,500 companies, including notable clients like L’Occitane, Deel, Intercom, and Le Monde.
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Shifting Focus: Employee Security Posture Management
Recognizing that cybersecurity risks go beyond awareness, the startup is expanding its focus to Employee Security Posture Management (ESPM). This new platform evaluates individual employees’ security habits, such as:
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA) activation
- Smartphone security settings
- LinkedIn privacy configurations
The system assigns each employee a “Karma Score,” reflecting their overall security posture. The platform then provides personalized nudges to improve weak areas, like enabling MFA or adjusting privacy settings.
Benjamin Netter, Riot’s CEO, explained:
“Our mission is to make security actionable at the employee level. Small changes—like securing a LinkedIn profile or updating password practices—can significantly reduce cyber risks.”
Addressing Emerging Threats
With cybersecurity threats increasingly targeting employees through channels like WhatsApp and social engineering attacks on LinkedIn, the company’s approach blends corporate security with consumer-like features, including gamification elements to encourage better security habits.
Growth Plans with New Funding
The Series B funding will support Riot’s expansion plans, including:
- Opening new international offices
- Growing its client base globally
- Developing new cybersecurity tools, potentially including an antivirus or password manager
Netter emphasized Riot’s long-term vision:
“We’re building the future of employee security. Our goal is to offer a complete security stack for employees, both in the workplace and beyond.”
With strong investor backing and a rapidly growing user base, Riot is poised to redefine how companies approach cybersecurity—focusing on employees as the first line of defense.
