YL Ventures
YL Ventures is a US–Israel venture capital firm managing $800 million and dedicated exclusively to seed-stage Israeli cybersecurity startups, providing CISO network access, domain expertise, and split-seed co-investment partnerships through scale.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersMill Valley, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What YL Ventures does
YL Ventures is a US–Israel venture capital firm dedicated exclusively to early-stage cybersecurity investing. Founded around 2006 and headquartered at 18 Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv with a Silicon Valley office, the firm manages $800 million in assets under management across a small, specialist investment team of roughly twelve professionals led by Managing Partner Yoav Andrew Leitersdorf, Senior Partner Ofer Schreiber, and Partner Kirk Manoogian.
The firm partners with Israeli cybersecurity founders at inception and supports them through scale via three proprietary platforms: a CISO Advisory Board drawn from enterprise security leaders at companies including Robert Half, Lionbridge, Everon, Burberry, and Finance of America; an in-house CISO-in-residence and CTO-level domain expertise; and a split-seed co-investment model that pairs YL Ventures with US global venture firms such as General Catalyst, Mayfield, Ballistic Ventures, Battery Ventures, Canaan Partners, Wing Venture Capital, Paladin Capital, and Crosspoint Capital to combine Israeli cybersecurity specialization with US enterprise market access and follow-on capital.
YL Ventures generates returns through equity ownership in portfolio companies, realizing gains via strategic acquisitions and IPOs. Documented exits include Twistlock (acquired by Palo Alto Networks), Hexadite (acquired by Microsoft), and additional outcomes at Okta, Tenable, Cato Networks, and Commvault. The current portfolio spans cloud security (Native, Orca), identity security (Opti, Spera), AI-driven offensive security (Novee), machine identity (Hush Security), data loss prevention (MIND), and software supply chain security (Minimus). The firm has been recognized by PitchBook as a Top 10 Cybersecurity VC in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and by TIME magazine as one of America's Top Venture Capital Firms for 2025.
YL Ventures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- YL Ventures
- Legal name
- YL Ventures
- Website
- http://www.ylventures.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- YL Ventures is a US–Israel venture capital firm managing $800 million and dedicated exclusively to seed-stage Israeli cybersecurity startups, providing CISO network access, domain expertise, and split-seed co-investment partnerships through scale.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
YL Ventures industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital (Cybersecurity)
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)
Keywords
Where YL Ventures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mill Valley
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
YL Ventures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Venture Capital Returns: YL Ventures generates returns through equity ownership in portfolio companies, realizing gains through acquisitions and IPOs. The firm manages $800M under management and takes ownership stakes in early-stage cybersecurity companies.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
YL Ventures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
YL Ventures provides seed-stage venture capital funding exclusively to Israeli cybersecurity startups, alongside hands-on company-building support. Portfolio companies gain access to a CISO advisory board network for product validation, co-investment partners for follow-on funding, GTM guidance, talent introductions, and direct enterprise buyer connections. The firm manages $800M and uses a split-seed model co-led with US global venture firms.
Product overview
YL Ventures is a venture capital firm dedicated exclusively to cybersecurity, offering investment partnership, hands-on company-building support, and access to an unrivaled network of CISOs, strategic partners, top talent, and investors. The firm manages $800M under management with offices in Silicon Valley and Tel Aviv, focusing on partnering with exceptional Israeli cybersecurity founders from inception through scale.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Seed-Stage Venture Capital Funding Equity investment at seed stage in Israeli cybersecurity startups, providing initial capital from inception as part of a split-seed co-investment model with US global venture firms.
- Company-Building Support Hands-on operational support for portfolio companies including GTM guidance, talent standards, and strategic advice from founding partners and in-house CTO.
- CISO Advisory Board Network Access Portfolio companies gain access to a network of practicing CISOs from enterprises such as Robert Half, Lionbridge, Everon, Burberry, and Finance of America Companies who provide early product feedback, market validation, and credibility.
- State of the Cyber Nation Annual Report Annual research report tracking Israeli cybersecurity funding trends, published for ten consecutive years as of 2025, providing market data and ecosystem insights.
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple successful exits including acquisitions by Palo Alto Networks, Microsoft, Okta, Tenable, Cato Networks, Commvault, and others
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use YL Ventures
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
YL Ventures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
YL Ventures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- CISO Advisory BoardcoreNetwork of practicing CISOs providing early product feedback, market validation, and credibility to portfolio companies. Includes advisors from Robert Half, Lionbridge, Everon, Burberry, Finance of America Companies, and other enterprises
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
YL Ventures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Team8: Israeli-founded cybersecurity-focused venture builder and investor that builds and invests in cybersecurity and enterprise software companies. Directly comparable to YL Ventures in target geography (Israel), sector focus (cybersecurity), and stage (early-stage), making it the closest peer.
- Cyberstarts: Israeli cybersecurity-dedicated seed-stage VC founded by founders of cybersecurity companies. Directly comparable to YL Ventures given its seed-stage focus, Israeli cybersecurity thesis, and founder-network-driven sourcing approach.
- Ballistic Ventures: US-based cybersecurity-focused VC founded by former security operators. Comparable to YL Ventures in cybersecurity-only thesis and early-stage focus, with several split-seed co-investment partnerships already in place (e.g., Native's $31M Series A).
- Ten Eleven Ventures: Cybersecurity-focused VC investing in early and growth-stage security companies globally. Directly comparable to YL Ventures in sector exclusivity and stage orientation, though geographically broader in sourcing.
- Forgepoint Capital: Cybersecurity-dedicated venture firm investing in early-stage security companies. Comparable to YL Ventures given its security-only investment thesis and early-stage orientation across cloud, identity, and infrastructure security.
Broad incumbents
- Bessemer Venture Partners: Large multi-stage VC with a dedicated cybersecurity practice and significant security portfolio. Comparable as a co-investor and as a broader incumbent with cybersecurity expertise, though it operates across all sectors.
- Accel: Major global VC with a long track record of cybersecurity investments (CrowdStrike, Tenable, and others). Comparable as a generalist investor that competes for the same Israeli founders at scale, though YL Ventures is more sector-specialized.
- Insight Partners: Large growth-stage VC with deep cybersecurity exposure. Comparable as a follow-on investor that often participates in rounds led by YL Ventures and its cybersecurity-focused peers, though it operates at later stages and across all sectors.
- Mayfield Fund: US-based multi-stage VC that co-leads split-seed rounds with YL Ventures (e.g., Opti, Minimus). Comparable as a frequent co-investor in the Israeli cybersecurity ecosystem, though it invests across enterprise and consumer sectors.
- General Catalyst: Large multi-stage VC that has co-led multiple split-seed rounds with YL Ventures and participated in Native's Series A. Comparable as a high-profile co-investor in Israeli cybersecurity, though it operates across many sectors and stages.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
YL Ventures social profiles
Digital presenceYL Ventures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
YL Ventures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
YL Ventures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
YL Ventures M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments73 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about YL Ventures
What does YL Ventures do?
YL Ventures provides seed-stage venture capital funding exclusively to Israeli cybersecurity startups, alongside hands-on company-building support. Portfolio companies gain access to a CISO advisory board network for product validation, co-investment partners for follow-on funding, GTM guidance, talent introductions, and direct enterprise buyer connections. The firm manages $800M and uses a split-seed model co-led with US global venture firms.
Is YL Ventures a public or private company?
YL Ventures is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was YL Ventures founded?
YL Ventures was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is YL Ventures based?
YL Ventures is headquartered in Mill Valley, United States, in the North America region.
How does YL Ventures make money?
One revenue line is on record: venture Capital Returns.
Who are YL Ventures's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Team8, Cyberstarts, Ballistic Ventures, Ten Eleven Ventures and Forgepoint Capital. Broad incumbents are Bessemer Venture Partners, Accel, Insight Partners, Mayfield Fund and General Catalyst.
Does YL Ventures have an API?
No public API is recorded for YL Ventures.
What industry is YL Ventures in?
YL Ventures's product category is Venture Capital (Cybersecurity). Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAA, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed), with a secondary code of FSANAAAB, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.