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Berlin-based cybersecurity startup, NetBird, has raised seed funding to the tune of €4 million to accelerate further the development of its open-source network security platform. The co-leading rounds were led by InReach Ventures that has invested previously in firms such as Streamkap and Exactly.ai; with another existing investor – Nauta. Other contributors to this round included Antler as well as a grant from German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. With this funding, NetBird will scale up its product lines, expand to a global presence, and continue to disrupt the traditional network security market in hybrid work settings.
Hybrid Work Shift and Cybersecurity Challenges
Hybrid work has shifted the landscape for enterprise IT security, as companies abandon perimeter-based approaches to Zero Trust security models. Zero Trust operates on the principle of “never trust, always verify,” ensuring continuous authentication for users and devices and minimizing the risks of remote access. This shift has contributed to the rapid growth of the Zero Trust security market, which is expected to reach $100 billion by 2030, according to Fortune Business Insights, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17%.
However, while large cybersecurity players have aggressively marketed Zero Trust solutions to end-users, SMEs continue to find the underlying technology too complex and expensive. That said, many organizations do not even get the opportunity to tap into the benefits of this zero-trust security model in depth.
NetBird Origins and Vision
Founded in 2022 by Misha Bragin and Maycon Santos, NetBird was founded by two entrepreneurs with a passion for network security and open-source development. Originally from Russia and Brazil, they met at PSafe, a cybersecurity startup that CyberLabs acquired. They moved to Berlin, where they were part of the Antler founder residency program, during which a side project related to end-to-end encryption turned into NetBird.
The vision is to make secure, private networking a basic right for businesses of all sizes. The company’s flagship product is a zero-configuration VPN, built on the WireGuard protocol that simplifies network security, allowing non-technical administrators to easily manage teams, infrastructure, and security policies.
Since its launch on GitHub in 2021, NetBird has gained massive traction, with thousands of companies adopting the platform to secure remote workforces and infrastructures. Unlike traditional centralized VPN solutions, NetBird’s platform uses a peer-to-peer network, which has made it a trusted choice for businesses looking to implement modern network security practices.
Making Zero Trust Accessible for SMEs
The solution NetBird proposes aims at simplifying the adoption of Zero Trust for businesses, especially for SMEs, as an easy-to-use, cost-efficient alternative to traditional VPN solutions. By using open-source, WireGuard-based technology, NetBird reduces the complexity of the Zero Trust architecture and lets businesses access such advanced security frameworks that would otherwise be barred due to financial or technical constraints.
The platform is already widely used by hundreds of thousands of users and devices worldwide, and its open source has created a thriving community, which actively contributes to developing the platform. Maycon Santos, NetBird’s CTO underlines the importance of community feedback in the company’s speedy innovation process. “The open-source community has been incredibly supportive, and that feedback loop allows us to innovate quickly,” he said. “We listen to our users, and their input helps make network security better for everyone.”
Growing and Future Plans of NetBird
With the successful close of this funding round, NetBird is well positioned to expand its global reach and speed up the development of its open-source platform. As the Zero Trust security market continues to grow, NetBird is well-positioned to be at the forefront of making secure networking solutions available to companies of all sizes. The company plans to scale its product offering, adding more features and expanding its footprint to cater to hybrid workforces worldwide.
It aims at streamlining the adoption of Zero Trust technologies, especially to ease it for businesses that feel complicated by traditional network security solutions. NetBird wants to ensure secure connectivity becomes the default option for every organization, enabling organizations to embrace the future of work without compromising on security.
Investor Perspectives
Investors have been very supportive to the mission and product of NetBird. This is according to Amanda Jones Floyd, Partner at InReach Ventures, who praised the security combined with simplicity. “The approach of NetBird redefines the possible in network security,” said Floyd. “They set up a beautifully simple product that is user-friendly enough without compromising on security. The company will set a new level of how organizations think of and implement secure networking in the future.”
Carles Ferrer, General Partner at Nauta, also highlighted NetBird’s innovative solution in addressing the security needs of modern businesses. “NetBird solves the challenges that many organizations face with traditional VPNs—inefficiency, cost, and single points of failure. Their combination of Mesh-VPN architecture and Zero Trust Network Access Controls offers a more efficient, cheaper, and more secure alternative. We’re excited to support Misha, Maycon, and the team as they continue to scale and grow NetBird,” he said.
