Aikido Security, a Belgian cybersecurity company, has acquired Root, a startup that raised approximately $31 million and built an AI platform for securing open-source software components. The deal marks a strategic expansion for Aikido as it deepens its focus on AI-driven security.
The acquisition will allow Aikido to open a new development center in Israel, tapping into the country's deep cybersecurity talent pool. Root's technology specifically targets vulnerabilities in open-source libraries, a growing vector for supply chain attacks that affect thousands of organizations globally.
Root had raised about $31 million in venture funding prior to the deal, according to a report by Meir Orbach in CTech. The startup's platform uses machine learning to automatically detect and remediate risks in open-source dependencies, addressing a market projected to exceed $5 billion by 2027.
The combined entity will likely accelerate product integration, offering customers a unified solution for code security and open-source governance. Industry observers expect more consolidation in the AI security sector as demand for automated vulnerability management surges.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Israeli cybersecurity executives have noted that the country's startup ecosystem remains a hotbed for M&A activity, particularly in AI and security. The new development center is expected to create dozens of jobs.