The Israeli startup Kela provides software for applications such as border defense. Its founders include, from left: Jason Manne, Hamutal Meridor, Alon Dror and Omer Bar-Ilan (company pic)
Israeli defense technology startup Kela has successfully raised $39 million in total funding, strengthening its mission to modernize military systems with cutting-edge commercial technology. The funding includes an $11 million Seed round led by Sequoia and a $28 million Series A round spearheaded by Lux Capital.
Founded in July 2024, Kela has developed an open military technology platform that enables Western defense forces to seamlessly integrate advanced commercial innovations into their systems. This approach aims to enhance operational capabilities by leveraging the latest advancements in AI, cybersecurity, and autonomous systems.
The funding rounds also saw participation from several angel investors and venture funds, including In-Q-Tel, the CIA’s strategic investment arm. With this fresh capital, Kela plans to accelerate the development and deployment of its platform, initially focusing on Israel before expanding across Western defense markets.
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As the demand for AI-driven defense solutions grows, Kela is positioned to become a key player in the global defense technology sector. Stay tuned for further updates on Kela’s expansion and impact in the military tech industry.
The company was established by Hamutal Meridor, daughter of former Israeli cabinet minister dan Meridor and a graduate of the IDF’s vaunted 8200 intelligence unit, Alon Dror, Jason Manne, and Omer Bar-Ilan. KELA is a leading cyber threat intelligence provider that combines cutting-edge automated technologies with the expertise of seasoned intelligence analysts to deliver unparalleled insights into the cybercrime underground. By infiltrating and monitoring hidden networks, Kela uncovers genuine threats, providing clients with 100% real, actionable intelligence. This revolutionary solution equips organizations worldwide with contextualized, attacker-perspective intelligence, fostering proactive defense and removing critical blind spots.
Dror, the company’s CEO, graduated from the elite Talpiot program before spending nearly a decade in Israel’s defense sector—initially as a tank commander and later in the IDF, where he received the Israel Defense Prize. Manne brings a decade of aeronautical engineering expertise in weapons development from both the Israeli Air Force and the Intelligence Corps’ specialized Technology Unit (Unit 81). Bar-Ilan, an accomplished engineer and repeat entrepreneur, previously headed the algorithms team at Rafael. With approximately 25 employees, Kela is based in Tel Aviv.
“We are in the midst of a technological revolution that will shape the future of security in the democratic world,” said Meridor. “The early support of leading American funds, Sequoia and Lux, is not just a vote of confidence—it is a testament to the significance of the mission we aspire to lead. The experience, reputation, and connections of our partners will be critical force multipliers in our journey, from proving the platform in Israel to expanding it into the security markets of the Western world—where success in this mission is the only option.”
Kela’s innovative Threat Actors module equips organizations to discover, analyze, and fortify their defenses with unparalleled insights into cyber threat actors. Delving into motivations, fields of activity, geographies, handles, contact details, and more, this module consolidates online personas, offering a unified view that goes beyond standard data analysis. The interactive and user-friendly interface ensures swift navigation and access to each profile. In critical situations or when an in-depth profile analysis becomes challenging, the module offers a concise threat actor summary. This summary is expertly crafted by our intelligence analysts or swiftly generated by KELA AI within seconds, providing timely insights to enhance decision-making and response efforts. Those familiar with daily data analysis will quickly see the value in this capability.
