The rise of artificial intelligence has intensified online threats, with a significant portion of web traffic now driven by bots—both beneficial and malicious. Cyberattacks such as DDoS assaults and data scraping are increasingly targeting businesses, and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are the most vulnerable.
According to cybersecurity entrepreneur Nikita Rozenberg, large enterprises can typically withstand such attacks, but for SMBs, they can be catastrophic. This concern led Rozenberg to establish Blackwall, an Estonia-based cybersecurity startup focused on safeguarding SMBs from malicious traffic. Originally known as BotGuard, Blackwall operates similarly to industry leaders like Cloudflare and Imperva but with an emphasis on ease of use and automation tailored for smaller businesses.
Expansion and New Solutions
Blackwall recently introduced an ad fraud prevention tool designed to protect e-commerce businesses from bots consuming their advertising budgets. This innovation aligns with the company’s broader mission of providing security solutions that are both effective and accessible.
The startup’s rapid growth and ambitious product roadmap have attracted significant investor interest. Dawn Capital, a venture capital firm specializing in B2B investments, has led a €45 million ($49.2 million) Series B funding round to help Blackwall expand its product offerings and global footprint. MMC Ventures, which previously led Blackwall’s €12 million Series A round, also participated in this latest funding round.
Advanced Threat Detection with GateKeeper
At the core of Blackwall’s technology is GateKeeper, a reverse proxy solution that inspects, analyzes, and filters web traffic in real time using AI. This tool identifies and blocks harmful bot activity, intrusions, and other malicious requests before they can harm businesses.
The company’s recent rebranding reflects its broader focus beyond bot mitigation. The name “Blackwall” was inspired by the Cyberpunk 2077 video game, where a high-tech firewall—also called Blackwall—protects the internet from rogue artificial intelligences. While the video game reference adds a creative touch, Blackwall’s real-world mission is clear: to provide robust, automated cybersecurity for SMBs without adding complexity to their operations.
A Unique Sales Model and Global Growth
Unlike traditional cybersecurity firms that sell directly to businesses, Blackwall employs a channel-based distribution strategy. It partners with hosting providers, managed service providers, and e-commerce platforms that integrate its solutions into their services. This allows these partners to enhance security for their customers while also reducing costs associated with bot-driven malicious traffic.
This strategy has fueled rapid adoption, with Blackwall’s services now protecting over 2.3 million websites and applications. The company currently operates with a team of 65 employees and plans to double its workforce using the new funding. Expansion efforts are focused on the U.S. and Asia-Pacific (APAC) markets, where cybersecurity threats continue to rise.
With its latest funding, Blackwall is set to strengthen its AI-driven cybersecurity solutions and continue its mission of shielding SMBs from the growing wave of malicious online threats.