Beelzebub Raises 3 Million Euros in Seed Funding for AI-Based Cybersecurity

The Italian cybersecurity startup Beelzebub has closed a seed funding round totaling 3 million euros. The round was led exclusively by the Italian deep-tech investor United Ventures. In total, the company has raised 3.3 million euros since its founding.

Beelzebub plans to use the new capital to expand its research team, open new offices in Rome and San Francisco, and drive its expansion in Europe. A particular focus is on companies that fall under the European NIS2 Directive.

AI Aims to Stop Attackers with Digital Traps

Beelzebub is developing an AI-native cybersecurity platform that operates on the assumption that attackers are already inside the corporate network. Instead of solely strengthening a company’s external defenses, the solution relies on so-called deception technology: highly realistic digital decoys are placed within the IT infrastructure to mimic servers, databases, or cloud systems.

As soon as an attacker interacts with one of these traps, the platform automatically detects the attack, isolates affected systems, and immediately initiates countermeasures. An AI then analyzes the malicious code and generates a detailed security report in a matter of moments.

Platform Combines Attack Simulation and Defense

The platform consists of several modules that combine attack simulation, active defense, and automated malware analysis. While the Arcangelo module simulates targeted cyberattacks, Beelzebub Managed continuously deploys new AI-generated traps within the infrastructure. The Caronte analysis module then automatically examines detected malware and helps organizations respond quickly to security incidents.

The solution can be operated both as a cloud service and entirely on-premises—an important factor for companies and government agencies with particularly high data protection and security requirements.

Expansion in the Face of Growing Cyber Threats

As artificial intelligence becomes more widespread, cyberattacks are also evolving. Automated malware, AI-generated phishing campaigns, and self-learning attack methods are increasing the pressure on traditional security teams. At the same time, new European regulations such as the NIS2 Directive and the Cyber Resilience Act are tightening IT security requirements for many companies.

Beelzebub is positioning itself precisely in this market segment and aims to help companies detect attacks early and fend them off automatically.

Early Detection Even for Known Hacker Groups

According to the company, the platform was able to detect and document the activities of the hacker group TeamPCP at an early stage; this group was later linked to the security incident at GitHub. With the new funding, Beelzebub now plans to further develop its technology and, in the future, also provide specialized protection mechanisms for AI agents.