SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NightDragon Security, a dedicated cybersecurity investment firm, today announced the appointment of Ken Gonzalez as Managing Director. NightDragon Security, which was formerly cybersecurity veteran Dave DeWalt’s personal investment vehicle, will now broaden its scope to invest in cybersecurity companies alongside venture capital and private equity investors.
Additionally, NightDragon announced a new strategic partnership with Momentum Cyber, the premier trusted advisor to the cybersecurity industry, where DeWalt is Chairman. The partnership represents a unique model for providing growth acceleration, investment capital and strategic advice to cybersecurity companies across the corporate lifecycle – from early to late stage, buyouts to carve-outs, and special situation investing. Gonzalez will bridge this partnership and is also named a Partner at Momentum Cyber.
“Ken Gonzalez is a seasoned technology executive having completed more than 40 acquisitions and built dozens of strategic partnerships,” said DeWalt. “I am excited to join forces with Ken in the pursuit of building the next series of great companies in cybersecurity.”
“Cybersecurity is a $100 billion global market with more than 3,000 vendors, making it difficult for companies to rise above the competitive noise and create great businesses, while investors rarely have the full view of this dynamic market to make informed decisions on when to invest and when to exit,” said DeWalt. “Together, the combined capabilities and visibility of NightDragon Security and Momentum Cyber ensure that companies have expert advice to maximize shareholder value at all stages of their corporate lifecycle -- either by organic growth, partnerships, mergers and acquisition or IPO.”
NightDragon Security offers:
- Flexibility. The investment model allows for leading or co-investing alongside top venture capital and private equity firms or for partnering with corporates to drive growth and maximize shareholder value.
- Expertise. DeWalt is the former CEO of McAfee and FireEye; a managing director at AllegisCyber; current board member of leading cybersecurity companies including Optiv, ForeScout, ForgeRock, Claroty, Callsign, Illusive Networks, and Social SafeGuard; and Chairman of Momentum Cyber. Gonzalez is a former managing director at ForgePoint Capital and previously was a senior executive at McAfee, Avast, and FireEye responsible for corporate and business development and global alliances. Following investment, NightDragon provides deep operational expertise helping companies refine product strategy, hone go-to-market models, and accelerate growth.
- Visibility. Through its partnerships with Optiv, Team8, and DataTribe, NightDragon has unique visibility into the trends impacting the dynamic cybersecurity landscape and the companies that will shape its future. This broad visibility guides investment focus and post-investment acceleration activities.
Momentum Cyber Strategic Partnership
Momentum Cyber is the premier trusted advisor to the cybersecurity industry providing bespoke high-impact advice combined with tailored, senior-level access. The firm’s leadership, including DeWalt, Michael Tedesco and Eric McAlpine, has closed over 250 transactions totaling over $250 billion in value. Through the newly formed strategic partnership with Momentum Cyber, alongside existing relationships with leading venture capital firms including AllegisCyber, NightDragon Security expands its unique market visibility into the financial trends shaping the cybersecurity landscape.
“The strategic partnership between NightDragon Security and Momentum Cyber creates a new and powerful model of collaboration for the cybersecurity industry. For the first time this market has a team of cybersecurity experts with the flexibility to source, investigate and invest in companies across stages of growth and transaction type. Following investment, we bring the operational expertise to advise on growth, go-to-market strategies and the optimal path to liquidity,” said Gonzalez.
About NightDragon Security
NightDragon Security is an investment firm focused on partnering with cybersecurity companies across the corporate lifecycle, from early stage, to growth, buyouts and special situations. Its flexible model allows it to lead or co-invest alongside leading venture capital and private equity firms in the pursuit of driving growth and maximizing shareholder value. NightDragon is unique in providing deep operational expertise in cybersecurity gained by its founders Dave DeWalt and Ken Gonzalez from years serving as senior executives leading technology companies such as Documentum, EMC, Siebel Systems (Oracle), McAfee, Mandiant, Avast and FireEye.
About Momentum Cyber
Momentum Cyber is the premier trusted advisor to the cybersecurity industry providing bespoke high-impact advice combined with tailored, senior-level access. The firm was founded by world-class operators and advisors and caters to the unique needs of both earlier stage Founders, CEOs, & Boards as well as the complexity of later stage & public companies throughout their lifecycle – incubation to exit. Headquartered in San Francisco with operations globally, the founding team has closed over 250 transactions totaling over $250 billion in value. Momentum Cybersecurity Group, LLC conducts its M&A advisory services as an M&A Broker as defined by the SEC.