Hack The Box

What Hack The Box does

Hack The Box (Hack The Box, Ltd.) is a UK-headquartered cyber readiness platform founded in 2017 by Haris Pylarinos that operates a unified platform for developing, validating, and hiring cybersecurity talent — for both humans and autonomous AI agents. The core offering, the HTB Enterprise Platform, bundles a content library (1,500+ hands-on labs, 230+ defensive security courses post-LetsDefend, MITRE ATT&CK / NIST-aligned curriculum), CTF competitions, Threat Range and SOC Range team simulations, Crisis Control tabletop exercises, and HTB Coach (AI-augmented learning). On top of this sits HTB AI Range, a proprietary reinforcement-learning cyber range for benchmarking autonomous AI security agents against human operators, plus a public MCP server for plugging AI models into real HTB labs. A Talent Search and Job Board module connects the 4M+ community of validated practitioners with employers.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market: direct enterprise field sales with quote-based annual subscriptions (800+ enterprise customers including Google, AWS, Intel, Deloitte, Siemens, Raytheon, Verizon, Standard Chartered, Lufthansa, Toyota, and Autodesk), a self-serve product-led growth funnel for individuals via Academy / Labs / Capture The Flag freemium-to-paid conversion, a formal Ziftone-based Channel & Reseller program, and distribution partnerships including a flagship LinkedIn Learning integration (1,800 labs) and strategic alliances with Google (AI Red Teamer), Semperis (identity resilience), and Synack. The company reported $50M ARR with 65% CAGR in early 2026 and ~$70M total disclosed funding led by Carlyle's $55M Series B in January 2023. Operationally, HTB is privately held with offices in the UK (HQ), United States, Australia (Sydney/Newcastle), and Greece (Athens, for R&D), and holds SOC 2, ISO 27001/27701/9001, UK Cyber Essentials, and DoD Cyber Workforce Framework 8140 approvals.

Name

Hack The Box

Legal name

Hack The Box Ltd

Website

https://www.hackthebox.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Hack The Box is a UK-based cyber readiness platform that combines hands-on labs, cyber ranges, AI-agent benchmarking, and workforce analytics to train and assess both human security teams and autonomous AI agents for 800+ enterprise customers and a 4M+ member community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Skills & Training Platform

NAICS

Computer Training (611420), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Phishing, Social Engineering & Business Email Compromise (BEC) Training (EDABAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cybersecurity Technical Skills (Security Engineering, SOC, Pen Testing) (EDABAFAF), Cybersecurity (EDAAAPAC), IT, Software & Cybersecurity Training (EDAGANAF)

Keywords

• Cybersecurity training platform
• Capture the flag competitions
• Cyber workforce development
• Cyber range exercises
• AI security agents

Headquarters

HQ city

Folkestone

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Enterprise Subscription (Business): Recurring subscription revenue from enterprise and government customers (800+) for access to the Enterprise Platform, Academy for Business, Threat Range, Crisis Control, Talent Search, and reporting. Reached $50M ARR with 65% CAGR.
2. Individual Subscription / Freemium: Freemium-to-paid conversion model for individual hackers/learners via Academy courses, Labs access, and Capture The Flag competitions, with tiered upgrades.
3. Enterprise Capture The Flag / Custom Events: Customizable, paid Capture The Flag and tabletop exercise events for organizations (e.g., Autodesk Defender Days, UK Financial Services Hackathon), used as consulting/professional engagements.
4. Channel / Reseller and Strategic Alliance Distribution: Revenue share through formal Channel Partner program and strategic alliances (e.g., LinkedIn Learning integration delivering 1,800 cybersecurity labs).
5. Talent Search / Recruitment Services: Monetized talent sourcing and candidate assessment service connecting validated HTB-skilled candidates with employers.
6. Merchandise / Gift Cards: Branded HTB Swag storefront (hackthebox.store) and digital gift cards for individual subscribers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Hack The Box operates a cyber readiness platform combining gamified hands-on cybersecurity labs, capture-the-flag competitions, professional cyber ranges, an AI agent testing environment (HTB AI Range), and workforce analytics. Content is mapped to MITRE ATT&CK and NIST frameworks, serving both enterprises with cyber workforce development needs and individual learners pursuing cybersecurity skills and certifications.

Product overview

Hack The Box is a unified cyber readiness platform plus modules architecture, organized around four pillars: AI-Augmented Cyber Operations, Validate Operational Readiness, Cyber Workforce Development, and Strategic Cyber Resilience. At its core is the HTB Enterprise Platform (workforce development), supported by module offerings including HTB Academy (courses and certifications), HTB Labs (1,500+ hands-on labs, Sherlocks DFIR labs, Pro Labs, Cloud Labs), HTB Capture The Flag (gamified competitions), HTB Threat Range (adversary-realistic team simulations), HTB SOC Range (security operations training), HTB Crisis Control (tabletop exercises and crisis simulations), HTB AI Range (autonomous AI agent testing platform with MCP server), HTB Coach (AI-augmented learning), and HTB Talent Search / Job Board for sourcing and hiring validated security talent. The platform was extended in 2025 with the LetsDefend acquisition and serves 800+ enterprise customers with 4M+ community members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HTB AI Range: AI cyber range platform for testing, benchmarking, and validating autonomous AI security agents in high-stakes cyber environments (operated at hackthebox.ai).
• HTB Academy
• LetsDefend

Products and services

• HTB Enterprise Platform Central cyber workforce development platform for enterprise teams providing centralized user management, advanced analytics and reporting, curriculum management flexibility, and gamified skill development for organizations.
• HTB AI Range Controlled AI cyber range for testing and benchmarking autonomous AI security agents in high-stakes enterprise cyber environments, evaluating AI agents side-by-side with human operators for enterprise readiness, performance evaluation, and safety validation.
• HTB Academy

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% learning growth at Autodesk after running HTB-based Defender Days CTF
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers35 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability11 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• SemperisflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Strategic technology alliance announced June 10, 2026 to advance enterprise identity resilience. Combines Semperis' hybrid identity-security expertise with HTB's hands-on cyber readiness platform. Joint activities include collaboration on Purple Knight and Forest Druid open-source tools, joint educational content, industry events (2026 HIP Conf, Black Hat, technical roadshows), participation in Semperis' Midnight in the War Room Action Partner network, and joint customer/partner readiness programs targeting identity-based threats.
• SynackcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2026Expanded Synack certification partnership to four recognized credentials as part of HTB's broader defensive security, Crisis Control, and workforce intelligence platform expansion announced in June 2026.
• Semperis (Midnight in the War Room Action Partner Network)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 April 2026Hack The Box designated as an Action Partner for Semperis' documentary 'Midnight in the War Room', which explores cyber conflict and defenders' efforts, with distribution among cybersecurity professionals and organizations to promote cyber resilience and awareness.
• LinkedIn (LinkedIn Learning)flagshipTechnology or Integration · 5 November 2025Hack The Box became LinkedIn Learning's first hands-on, simulation-based cybersecurity learning partner. The collaboration integrates 1,800 HTB cybersecurity labs into the LinkedIn Learning platform to address the global cybersecurity skills gap and enable organizations to build cyber-ready teams.
• SAXUM GLOBAL and Buhler Duggal & HenryminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 September 2025Advised Hack The Box, Ltd. on the strategic add-on acquisition of LetsDefend, Inc. (closed September 2025), uniting two cybersecurity communities and product offerings to expand training and operational capabilities.
• LetsDefendflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2025Hack The Box acquired LetsDefend, Inc. (NY-based) as a strategic add-on acquisition. LetsDefend's blue-team SOC training platform was integrated with HTB to double HTB's blue-team offerings to over 230 defensive security courses.
• Google (Google Cloud Security)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Google on the AI Red Teamer certification path and AI security education. Co-hosted the inaugural UK Financial Services Security Hackathon (April 27-28) with Lloyds Banking Group, bringing together 33 teams from 16 financial institutions.
• Lloyds Banking GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosted the inaugural UK Financial Services Security Hackathon on April 27-28, bringing together 33 two-person teams from 16 financial institutions, fintechs, and technology companies. Reinforced AI-human collaboration in cybersecurity operations.
• Parrot OS (Parrot Security)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerParrot OS is distributed by HTB as 'Parrot OS for Cybersecurity' resources, with the HTB edition of ParrotOS available for download via parrotsec.org. Featured as a community resource on HTB's website.
• Forrester ResearchflagshipOthersHack The Box is recognized as a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: Cybersecurity Skills and Training Platforms, Q1 2026. Forrester amplification is used as a core marketing asset for enterprise sales.
• BugcrowdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured as partner/customer logo on HTB homepage and Forrester Wave page; aligned in the bug bounty / crowdsourced cybersecurity ecosystem.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Immersive Labs: Direct competitor profiled alongside HTB in the Forrester Wave for Cybersecurity Skills and Training Platforms. Operates a hands-on cyber skills and crisis simulation platform for enterprise and government; competes head-to-head on gamified labs, threat ranges, and board-level reporting.
• RangeForce: Provider of cloud-based cyber range and team readiness training for blue teams, red teams, and SOC analysts. Closely comparable to HTB's Threat Range, SOC Range, and Crisis Control offerings on enterprise cyber readiness and MITRE/NIST-aligned content.
• SimSpace: Cyber range platform for high-fidelity network simulation and team performance assessment, frequently benchmarked against HTB in the Forrester Wave. Comparable on adversary simulation, cyber range infrastructure, and enterprise/government readiness use cases.
• Cyberbit: Provider of cyber range and SOC training platforms for enterprises and governments. Competes with HTB's SOC Range, Threat Range, and Crisis Control, particularly in defense and critical infrastructure customers.
• OffSec (Offensive Security): Operator of Kali Linux and the OSCP certification, with hands-on offensive security labs and learning paths. Directly comparable to HTB's Labs, Academy, and offensive certifications (e.g., CPTS, CWEE) targeting penetration testing and red team skills.
• TryHackMe: Gamified, beginner-to-advanced cybersecurity learning platform with rooms, pathways, and CTFs. Closely comparable to HTB Academy and Labs for individual learners, and increasingly to HTB Business for SMB and education customers.
• Cybrary: Cybersecurity and IT workforce development platform with hands-on labs, assessments, and certification prep. Competes with HTB on enterprise cyber upskilling, MITRE/NIST-mapped content, and Talent Search-style career pathways.

Broad incumbents

• SANS Institute: Long-established cybersecurity training and certification provider with deep GIAC certification portfolio. Competes with HTB's Academy and certifications, particularly in regulated and government customers who require GIAC-mapped credentials.
• Pluralsight: Broad enterprise technology skills platform with a cybersecurity content vertical and skill assessments. Overlaps with HTB's enterprise workforce development use case, though Pluralsight is broader and less cybersecurity-specialized.
• KnowBe4: Security awareness and human risk management platform with phishing simulation and training content. Adjacent to HTB's defensive and behavior-change use cases, particularly in phishing-resistant training and board-level human-risk reporting for enterprise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hackthebox_eu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/HackTheBox/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/hackthebox.eu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hackthebox

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hack The Box