Former Microsoft PM’s Venice Raises $20M to Challenge Okta and CyberArk
Venice raised $20 million in Series A funding to replace CyberArk and Okta at Fortune 500 companies. Led by former Microsoft product manager Rotem Lurie, the 35-person Israeli-American startup is building unified cloud and on-premises access solutions for complex hybrid IT environments.
1. Venice Emerges from Stealth
Venice, a 35-person Israeli-American startup, announced a $20 million Series A funding round led by IVP with participation from Index Ventures. The infusion supports its mission to streamline identity management for both cloud and legacy on-premises systems at Fortune 500 firms.
2. Leadership and Vision
Founded and led by former Microsoft product manager Rotem Lurie, Venice leverages her experience on Defender for Identity and Axis Security’s acquisition. Lurie’s background in intelligence and enterprise cybersecurity shapes a long-term strategy focused on deep hybrid IT support.
3. Hybrid Access Management Platform
Venice’s platform integrates credential issuance and permissions for AI agents, chatbots and automation across cloud services and on-premises infrastructure. This dual-capability approach aims to simplify deployment for large enterprises still operating legacy systems alongside modern architectures.
4. Threat to Established Incumbents
By targeting Fortune 500 companies, Venice positions itself as a direct rival to incumbents like Okta and CyberArk in the privileged access management market. Its focus on comprehensive hybrid solutions could pressure these leaders to enhance on-premises capabilities.