Participated · Series C · Dec 2025

Zafran Security builds an AI-native Continuous Threat Exposure Management platform centered on its Exposure Graph, which maps relationships among assets, security weaknesses, controls and potential attacker movements. The platform identifies choke points where multiple attack paths converge and helps security teams prioritize mitigations that can disrupt several routes while minimizing business disruption. Zafran integrates with existing endpoint, firewall, cloud, identity and vulnerability scanning tools rather than requiring product replacements, and it can validate mitigations before deployment while coordinating discovery, prioritization, risk reduction and remediation. The company emphasizes that AI-enabled attackers increasingly chain lower-severity weaknesses into exploit paths and claims that 99% of vulnerabilities labeled critical in customer environments are not actually exploitable under existing conditions, so its platform focuses on the roughly 1% most likely to contribute to incidents. The recent strategic investment from Cisco Investments is intended to support expansion of the platform and closer technical and commercial alignment with Cisco.

Participated · Series A · Oct 2025

Cercli, founded by former Careem operators Akeed Azmi and David Reche, is rebuilding a Rippling-like back-office stack for the MENA region with artificial intelligence embedded throughout every module. Its platform consolidates HR management, multi-country payroll, compliance and recruiting, using agent-driven features to surface candidate lists and automate treasury and reconciliation tasks. The company claims onboarding takes just two to three days and that it now processes more than $100 million in payroll annually for customers across 50 countries. Revenue has grown more than 10× in the past year and is currently expanding at 21% month-over-month. Cercli’s 14-person team serves clients such as Vision Bank, Global Climate Finance Centre, Huspy, Lean Technologies and Ziina. With an estimated $5.8 billion HR software opportunity in the region, management plans to launch additional AI-native products and further expand market share. The startup previously raised a $4 million seed round and is a Y Combinator alum.

Participated · Equity · Oct 2025

Founded in 2021, High Temperature Material Systems (HTMS) is engineering advanced Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) that marry the heat-resistance of ceramics with fibre reinforcement for strength and flexibility. The materials tolerate temperatures up to 1,400 °C and are being trialled for exhaust parts, brake shims and electric-vehicle battery casings—three major thermal pain points in the automotive sector. HTMS is already collaborating with automotive and battery manufacturers as well as Cranfield University and other research institutes. Currently registered in Stratford-upon-Avon with a laboratory in Bristol, the eight-person team plans to expand to roughly 48 employees over the next four years. Proceeds from its latest raise will fund a new production facility in Wiltshire, an office in Leamington Spa, and continued R&D. By bringing aerospace-grade materials to mass-market use cases, the company targets large opportunities across transportation and energy storage.

Participated · Series D · Oct 2025

Empower Semiconductor is a San Jose-based power-management company focused on reducing the energy footprint of AI and other high-performance processors. Its proprietary FinFast architecture integrates voltage regulators directly with the processor package, delivering on-demand scalable power with high speed, precision, and signal integrity. By shrinking solution footprint, height, and component count, the technology enables vertical power delivery with superior power density and efficiency, lowering total cost of ownership for data-center operators. Led by founder and CEO Tim Phillips, the company positions itself as a critical enabler of the accelerating AI revolution. The newly secured Series D financing strengthens its balance sheet and supports expanded operations and R&D. Though revenue and user metrics were not disclosed, the backing of prominent growth investors underscores market confidence in its solution. Future plans include broadening development efforts and scaling deployment across next-generation AI infrastructure.

Participated · Series B · Sep 2025

Silent Push, headquartered in Reston, Virginia and founded by cybersecurity veterans Ken Bagnall and John Jensen, offers a platform that shifts threat detection from reactive Indicators of Compromise to proactive Indicators of Future Attacks. The system delivers actionable intelligence that allows security teams to block malicious infrastructure before it is weaponised. The company has aligned with distributor CyberLion Ltd. to extend its reach across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. To date, Silent Push has raised a cumulative USD 32 million from venture investors. The new capital will fund global expansion and further development of its preventive cyber-defence capabilities. The founders previously built and exited The Email Laundry, which was acquired by FireEye, lending additional credibility to their execution track record.