Italian cybersecurity startup Exein has achieved unicorn status after securing $270 million in a funding round led by Headline. The company is now valued at $1,7 billion and focuses on providing security layers for physical AI and IoT devices.
Founded in 2018 and based in Rome, Exein works directly with OEMs and silicon vendors. Its product, Photon, provides runtime security at the kernel level. The company reports that it currently protects more than 2 billion connected devices across various industrial sectors.
Exein plans to use the new capital for M&A activities and to expand its workforce in the U.S. and Asia-Pacific regions. Currently, the Asia-Pacific market accounts for half of the company's total revenue, and the firm reports a 400% year-on-year growth rate.
The startup is developing a foundational model for physical AI security, which is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2027. This model will be trained on machine data and telemetrics to counter increasingly sophisticated machine-speed attacks.
The company expects further growth driven by the European Union’s Cyber Resilience Act. This regulation, which will be fully enforced by December 2027, mandates that manufacturers ensure all digital products are protected against cyber threats.
