AI-Driven Security Startup Dawnguard Secures €2.8 Million for Automation Revolution

Amsterdam-based Dawnguard Raises €2.8 Million in Pre-Seed Funding for Security Architecture Automation Platform

Amsterdam-based cybersecurity startup Dawnguard has recently announced the public launch of its security architecture automation platform, along with an additional €2.8 million ($3.3 million) in pre-Seed funding. This funding round was led by existing investor BNVT Capital in the UK, with new participation from Curiosity VC in the Netherlands and eCAPITAL in Germany. With this new injection of capital, Dawnguard’s total funding now exceeds €5.5 million ($6.3 million).

According to Dawnguard’s CEO and co-founder, Mahdi Abdulrazak, the cybersecurity industry has been stuck in a cycle of detection, response, and patching for too long. He emphasizes the importance of designing security measures correctly from the start, especially in today’s landscape where attackers operate at machine speed.

Founded in 2025 by Mahdi Abdulrazak and CTO Kim van Lavieren, Dawnguard is focused on building an AI-native cybersecurity platform that helps organizations design, build, and operate secure cloud-native systems from the ground up. The company’s founders bring a wealth of experience from companies like IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, and military cyber operations, positioning Dawnguard as a leader in proactive cybersecurity measures.

Dawnguard’s platform revolves around security architecture automation, converting secure architecture into deployable infrastructure, validating designs pre-deployment, generating production-ready Infrastructure as Code, and ensuring continuous alignment with approved security designs. This approach marks a shift away from reactive cybersecurity practices towards a more proactive model of security integration.

The Mythos Era, as Dawnguard calls it, represents a new environment where software evolves rapidly, often outpacing traditional security processes. In this context, the startup argues that cloud security should begin at the design stage, not after deployment. By providing a shared architecture workspace for engineering and security teams, Dawnguard enables the design, validation, and enforcement of cloud architectures, ultimately reducing the gap between security intent and operational reality.

The recent funding will be used to enhance product development, expand Dawnguard’s AI-driven architecture intelligence, strengthen its enterprise go-to-market strategy, and support international growth. The company also announced the opening of its New York City office as part of its global expansion plans.

Overall, Dawnguard’s innovative approach to security architecture automation signals a new era in cybersecurity, where proactive measures are key to preventing breaches and securing cloud-native systems effectively.