
Shlomo Kramer
Description
Shlomo Kramer is a towering figure in the global cybersecurity landscape, renowned as a serial entrepreneur and a highly influential investor. His journey began as a co-founder of Check Point Software Technologies in 1993, a pioneering venture that revolutionized network security and established him as a visionary in the field. Following this success, he continued to build impactful companies, co-founding Imperva in 2002, a leader in application and data security, and later Cato Networks in 2015, which introduced the concept of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). Kramer's deep technical expertise and strategic foresight have consistently positioned him at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation.
Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Kramer has cultivated a significant reputation as an astute investor, particularly in the early stages of promising cybersecurity startups. His investment philosophy is deeply rooted in his operational experience, allowing him to identify disruptive technologies and provide invaluable mentorship. A notable early success as an investor includes his role as a founding investor and board member at Palo Alto Networks, another cybersecurity giant that has achieved immense market success. This track record underscores his ability to spot and nurture the next generation of industry leaders.
Currently, a primary vehicle for Kramer's investment activities is Cyberstarts, a venture capital firm he co-founded with a singular focus on cybersecurity. As a founding partner, he plays an active role in identifying, evaluating, and supporting portfolio companies. Cyberstarts is known for its early-stage investments, typically targeting Seed and Series A rounds. The firm's initial investments generally range from $5 million to $10 million, providing substantial capital for nascent companies to scale. Kramer's involvement extends far beyond capital, offering strategic guidance, access to his extensive network, and a deep understanding of market dynamics, making him a highly sought-after partner for cybersecurity founders.
Investor Profile
Shlomo Kramer has backed more than 52 startups, with 2 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 1 rounds, about 2% of its total and boasts 14 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series B, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Israel.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, Cyber Security, Information Technology.
- Typical check size: $5M – $10M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (25%)
- Series B (25%)
- Series A (21%)
- Series C (10%)
- Series Unknown (8%)
- Series E (4%)
- Series D (4%)
- Series F (2%)
- Angel (2%)
Country Focus
- United States (69%)
- Israel (31%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Cyber Security
- Information Technology
- Security
- Network Security
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Enterprise Software
- Machine Learning
- Financial Services
- Cloud Computing
Frequently Asked Questions
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