An Israeli cybersecurity startup is stepping out of stealth with fresh funding to address long-standing gaps in web application security.
Huskeys has raised $8 million in a Seed round to enhance how web application firewalls (WAFs) operate. Founded in 2025, the company is targeting inefficiencies in legacy firewall systems that have remained largely unchanged for nearly 30 years.
Instead of replacing existing WAFs, Huskeys adds an AI-driven layer that analyzes, manages, and optimizes firewall performance. Its platform continuously reviews firewall rules and network configurations, helping distinguish between legitimate users and malicious traffic.
The goal is to reduce errors that can block real users—an issue that can directly impact revenue for online businesses. In one case, the company identified a misconfigured firewall that prevented customers from completing purchases on an e-commerce platform. Fixing the issue helped avoid losses estimated in the millions of dollars.
Huskeys defines its offering as a new category called “Edge Security Management,” focused on improving visibility and control across existing security infrastructure. The platform works across multiple cloud environments and firewall providers without requiring changes to application code.
Despite being less than a year old, the company says it has already onboarded dozens of customers, including global organizations such as TikTok, Merlin Entertainments, and Hugging Face. Its system processes over 1 trillion traffic requests across tens of thousands of domains and analyzes thousands of firewall rules daily.
The company was founded by Itai Gafni, CEO, and Roy Weissfeld, CTO, both alumni of Israel’s Unit 8200. Gafni previously led AI initiatives within the unit, while Weissfeld worked as a web security researcher.
The Seed round includes venture capital firms, cybersecurity entrepreneurs, and corporate security leaders, along with investors from outside the tech sector. Participants include ToDay (part of Merlin Ventures), 10D, SVAngel, CCL, and Alumni Ventures, along with notable angels such as Ariel Maislos, Benny Schneider, Ofer Ben-Noon, Matti Siman, Michael Dolinsky, and the founders of Demisto. The investor group also includes dozens of CISOs from Fortune 500 companies, athletes like Mario Götze and Larry Fitzgerald, and The Players Fund, backed by the Premier League and linked to clubs such as Juventus and Como.
Huskeys currently has about 20 employees, primarily in Israel, and plans to expand its research and go-to-market teams.
“Huskeys’ value lies in delivering the tool every CISO has been seeking for years, without forcing them to replace existing infrastructure,” said Itai Gafni, Co-Founder and CEO of Huskeys. “The platform was designed for rapid deployment, enabling implementation within minutes and delivering value within hours. For organizations whose revenue is driven by website traffic, this is a true game changer; not only improving security posture, but also generating additional revenue.”
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