Key facts
- Exein raised $270 million at a $1.7 billion valuation.
- The company provides cybersecurity for physical AI, including AI-powered robots, drones, and self-driving cars.
- Exein's latest product, Photon, offers runtime security at the kernel level.
- The startup claims to have secured over 2 billion connected devices across various sectors.
- Exein is developing a foundational model for Physical AI security, expected in Q1 2027.
- The company is growing 400% year on year.
European startup Exein has achieved unicorn status by raising $270 million in a funding round led by Headline, valuing the company at $1.7 billion. The company specializes in cybersecurity for physical AI, aiming to enable devices to defend themselves independently of network security. This funding round was reportedly oversubscribed.
Exein's CEO Gianni Cuozzo stated that the company's core concept is for every device to be self-defending. Its product, Photon, is designed to prevent attacks at the kernel level. Exein works closely with manufacturers, including OEMs and silicon vendors, to integrate its security solutions. The company claims to have secured over 2 billion connected devices in critical sectors such as aerospace, industrial automation, automotive, energy, healthcare, and semiconductors.
The growth of physical AI is expected to further fuel Exein's expansion, as its solutions can cover AI-powered robots, drones, self-driving cars, and other edge-computing devices. The company's valuation has seen a significant increase, multiplying thirty-fold since its Series B round two years ago and more than doubling since its Series C round in December 2025.
Exein is also developing a foundational model for Physical AI security, trained on machine data and telemetrics, which is slated for release in the first quarter of 2027. The company plans to use the new capital for mergers and acquisitions to enhance its product portfolio and to accelerate its expansion in the U.S. and Asia Pacific, which currently accounts for half of its revenue. Exein reported a 400% year-on-year growth.
The European Union's Cyber Resilience Act, which mandates cybersecurity standards for digital products, could provide further tailwinds for Exein. The Act's reporting obligations began last week and it will fully take effect in December 2027.