Lockstep
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersPalo Alto, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Lockstep firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lockstep
- Legal name
- Inlockstep, LLC
- Website
- https://lockstep.vc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Lockstep is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palo Alto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lockstep business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Lockstep product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lockstep Ventures is a cybersecurity-focused early-stage venture capital firm that invests seed and Series A capital into innovative cybersecurity startups in exchange for equity, and pairs that capital with hands-on strategic advisory from its practicing-CISO founding partners. The firm supplements its investment activity with the Lockstep Foundry invite-only practitioner community, the LockedIn event series at industry conferences such as Black Hat, and the Coffee with CISOs podcast to engage founders, security leaders, and portfolio companies.
Product overview
Lockstep Ventures is a single unified investment vehicle — a cybersecurity-focused venture capital firm — rather than a platform with multiple modules. The firm offers venture capital investment and strategic advisory services to early-stage cybersecurity founders. Their core offering combines capital with hands-on guidance from practicing CISOs, leveraging deep industry expertise and an extensive network of security practitioners to support portfolio companies. The firm also maintains the Lockstep Foundry, an invite-only community for cybersecurity practitioners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Lockstep Foundry: An invite-only community built for cybersecurity practitioners, led by Head of Community & Engagement Katelyn Ruby.
- LockedIn
- Coffee with CISOs
Products and services
- Lockstep Ventures (Early-Stage Cybersecurity Venture Capital Fund) A venture capital fund that invests seed and Series A capital into early-stage cybersecurity startups in exchange for equity, paired with hands-on strategic advisory from practicing-CISO founding partners and operating support from the Lockstep team. The fund serves cybersecurity founders seeking capital, market validation, and access to enterprise security buyers.
- Lockstep Foundry An invite-only practitioner community for cybersecurity practitioners and CISOs, offering networking, mentorship, and engagement with Lockstep's portfolio companies and founders. The community supports member onboarding, programming, communication, and practitioner-focused events for cybersecurity leaders.
- Coffee with CISOs Podcast A podcast series featuring conversations with cybersecurity leaders, produced by Lockstep as part of its practitioner-engagement strategy to build relationships with CISOs and elevate the firm's visibility in the cybersecurity community.
- LockedIn Community Events Community event brand for cybersecurity founders and practitioners hosted by Lockstep, including gatherings such as LockedIn at the Black Hat conference, designed to convene founders, security leaders, and Lockstep's broader network.
Quantifiable outcome
- Portfolio companies report that Lockstep's CISO network access helped secure early customers
Companies that use Lockstep
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Lockstep technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lockstep partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lockstep competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Team8: Israeli cybersecurity venture-builder and investor with deep CISO network. Same cyber-niche, similar operator-influenced approach.
- Ten Eleven Ventures: Dedicated cybersecurity-focused multi-stage VC. Closest US-based peer in cyber-only thesis and practitioner engagement.
- Forgepoint Capital: Cybersecurity-focused VC investing across stages with an industry adviser network. Directly comparable niche and LP-style positioning to Lockstep.
- Security Capital (Praetorian/416): Early-stage cybersecurity-focused VC. Comparable cyber-niche focus and similar stage profile to Lockstep.
- YL Ventures: Israeli-US seed-and-early-stage cybersecurity-focused VC. Directly comparable to Lockstep in niche focus, stage, and practitioner-led model.
- Cyberstarts: Cybersecurity-focused seed VC with strong US/Israel footprint. Closely comparable to Lockstep on thesis (cyber-only) and stage (seed).
- DataTribe: Seed-stage cybersecurity VC originating deals from intelligence-community and cyber-operator founders. Similar niche and operator-sourcing model.
Broad incumbents
- Bain Capital Ventures: Multi-stage generalist VC with a dedicated cybersecurity practice. Comparable insofar as it frequently co-invests in the same cyber deals and competes for founders.
- Accel: Multi-stage generalist VC with a long-running cybersecurity portfolio. Comparable as a broader incumbent that frequently overlaps with cyber-focused VCs on later rounds.
- Lightspeed Venture Partners: Large multi-stage VC with enterprise and security investing. Comparable as a broader incumbent that competes for cyber seed and Series A rounds.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lockstep social profiles
Digital presenceLockstep financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lockstep leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Lockstep funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lockstep M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments7 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lockstep
What does Lockstep do?
Lockstep Ventures is a cybersecurity-focused early-stage venture capital firm that invests seed and Series A capital into innovative cybersecurity startups in exchange for equity, and pairs that capital with hands-on strategic advisory from its practicing-CISO founding partners. The firm supplements its investment activity with the Lockstep Foundry invite-only practitioner community, the LockedIn event series at industry conferences such as Black Hat, and the Coffee with CISOs podcast to engage founders, security leaders, and portfolio companies.
Is Lockstep a public or private company?
Lockstep is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Lockstep founded?
Lockstep was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Lockstep based?
Lockstep is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Lockstep's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Team8, Ten Eleven Ventures, Forgepoint Capital, Security Capital (Praetorian/416), YL Ventures, Cyberstarts and DataTribe. Broad incumbents are Bain Capital Ventures, Accel and Lightspeed Venture Partners.
Does Lockstep have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lockstep.