Israeli cybersecurity firm Dream has raised $100 million (€105 million) in a Series B funding round, bringing its valuation to $1.1 billion (€1.05 billion). The company, which specializes in AI-driven cyber defense solutions for governments, aims to detect and neutralize cyber threats before they materialize.

The funding round, announced on Monday, was led by Bain Capital Ventures, with additional backing from Group 11, Tru Arrow, Tau Capital, and Aleph. The fresh capital injection will accelerate the company’s expansion into new markets and enhance the development of its Cyber Language Model (CLM), a next-generation AI tool designed to counter evolving cyber threats.

Cybersecurity in an Age of Increasing Threats

Founded in January 2023, Dream has quickly established itself as a key player in the cybersecurity sector, particularly in government and national security contracts. In 2024 alone, the company generated more than $130 million (€124 million) in sales to governments and national cybersecurity organizations.

Sebastian Kurz, co-founder and President of Dream, emphasized the urgency of robust cyber defense strategies.

“Sophisticated cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure are increasing in both prevalence and complexity,” Kurz said in a statement.

“During my time as Prime Minister, I saw firsthand how these attacks can cause real human damage and have the potential to disrupt entire societies. By founding Dream, we are on a mission to empower nations against what I believe is the defining national security threat of our era.”

Kurz, the former Austrian Chancellor, founded Dream alongside entrepreneur Shalev Hulio and cyber expert Gil Dolev. The venture marks a major shift in Kurz’s career, following his resignation from government in 2021 amid corruption allegations.

A New Chapter for Sebastian Kurz

Kurz stepped down as Austria’s Chancellor in 2021 after facing accusations of misusing public funds for favorable media coverage. In February 2024, he was found guilty of lying under oath to parliament and received an eight-month suspended sentence. Kurz has called the ruling “very unfair” and has since launched an appeal.

Despite his controversial political exit, Kurz has rebranded himself in the tech and cybersecurity industry, leveraging his experience in governance to address national security threats in the digital age.

The Growing Demand for AI-Driven Cyber Defense

With cybercriminals increasingly deploying AI-powered attacks, experts stress that AI-based defenses are essential to counter deepfake scams, phishing campaigns, and sophisticated cyber espionage.

According to industry data cited by the World Economic Forum (WEF), the total cost of cybercrime has skyrocketed from $3 trillion (€2.9 trillion) in 2015 to $6 trillion (€5.7 trillion) in 2021. Analysts predict this figure will soar to $15.6 trillion (€14.9 trillion) by 2029.

The cybersecurity market is expanding in response. A McKinsey report estimates that global spending on cybersecurity products and services reached approximately $200 billion (€191 billion) in 2024.

Dream’s latest funding round will also bring in new board members, including Enrique Salem of Bain Capital Ventures and Shlomo Yanai, a board member at Philip Morris. They will join existing board members Dovi Frances, Michael Eisenberg, and Dream’s founding team.

As the AI arms race in cyber warfare intensifies, Dream aims to position itself as a key player in protecting national security interests worldwide.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has for the first time publicly stated that he would be willing to send UK troops to Ukraine as part of a European peacekeeping force, should a deal be reached with Moscow requiring such an arrangement.

His remarks, made in an op-ed for The Daily Telegraph on Sunday, come just ahead of an emergency meeting of European leaders in Paris, where discussions are expected to focus on the shifting geopolitical landscape following recent statements by the Trump administration regarding US involvement in Ukraine.

UK’s Commitment to Ukraine’s Security

In his op-ed, Starmer acknowledged the risks of deploying British troops, saying it would mean “putting them in harm’s way.” However, he described the situation as an “existential” issue for Europe and a “once in a generation moment” that required decisive action.

He reiterated the UK’s long-term commitment to Ukraine, pledging to maintain £3 billion (€3.6bn) in annual military aid until 2030 and positioning Britain as a key leader in European defence and security efforts.

European Response to US Policy Shift

Starmer’s comments come in the wake of a series of statements by senior officials in the new Trump administration, which have raised concerns among European allies about Washington’s long-term commitment to Ukraine.

Last week, US President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth suggested that America would scale back its defence commitments in Europe, while US Special Envoy on Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg stated that Europe would likely be excluded from upcoming peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

These remarks have left European leaders scrambling to determine their role in shaping a potential peace deal, as the US and Russian delegations prepare for talks in Saudi Arabia this week.

Growing Support for European Peacekeeping Force

The idea of a European-led peacekeeping mission in Ukraine is not new. It was first suggested by French President Emmanuel Macron in early 2024, when he refused to rule out deploying French troops. Since then, the concept has gained traction, though details remain scarce on what such a force would look like, which nations would participate, and under what conditions troops would be deployed.

The composition and role of the force would largely depend on the terms of a potential peace agreement, the status of the frontline, and the presence of Ukrainian and Russian troops on the ground.

Calls for Increased Defence Spending in Europe

In his op-ed, Starmer echoed growing calls from US and EU officials urging European nations to increase defence spending and take on a greater role within NATO.

Currently, eight of NATO’s 30 European members have yet to meet the alliance’s target of spending 2% of GDP on defence. The UK currently allocates 2.3% of its GDP to defence, with plans to increase this to 2.5%, though Starmer’s Labour government has not yet provided a clear timeline for achieving this goal.

Paris Summit and European Unity

Monday’s emergency meeting in Paris will see Starmer join leaders from Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

The summit is expected to focus on coordinating Europe’s response to the evolving US stance, the potential formation of a European-led peacekeeping force, and broader discussions on strengthening European defence capabilities in light of shifting global alliances.

European leaders are set to hold an emergency summit on Monday to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, following concerns that the Trump administration’s push to negotiate directly with Russia is sidelining Europe in the peace process.

The urgent meeting, called by French President Emmanuel Macron, will bring together leaders from Germany, Poland, Italy, Denmark, the European Union, and NATO Secretary General, according to European diplomats cited by Reuters. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also expected to attend, calling it a “once in a generation” moment for European security.

The summit comes after U.S. President Donald Trump announced last week that negotiations to end the Ukraine war would begin immediately following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump’s Russia-Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, further alarmed European leaders by stating that while Ukraine would be involved in talks, Europe would not be a participant.

U.S. Policy Shift Sparks European Concerns

The developments have upended the previously united front between Washington and its NATO allies, which has been supporting Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began nearly three years ago. Trump’s team has indicated that the U.S. is willing to make key concessions to Russia, including acknowledging that Ukraine is unlikely to join NATO or regain its pre-2014 borders—a stark contrast to previous American policy.

New U.S. Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth, speaking in Brussels last week, suggested that Kyiv should accept territorial losses, a statement that was later softened to say that “everything is on the table” in upcoming negotiations. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance warned that Washington could still use economic and military leverage against Moscow if it does not negotiate in good faith.

The shift in Washington’s stance has led to growing unease among European allies, with Zelensky openly expressing concern that Ukraine could be left out of discussions deciding its own fate. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky said he was “not happy” that Trump called Putin before him and warned that a Trump-Putin meeting before a Trump-Zelensky meeting would be even more dangerous.

Europe’s Next Moves

With fears that Ukraine and Europe are being sidelined, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced on Sunday that the bloc would soon propose new initiatives to bolster European security and continue support for Ukraine.

The U.S., however, appears to be moving ahead with its own peace talks. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are expected to travel to Saudi Arabia for a meeting with senior Russian officials in the coming days, according to sources cited by CNN. The Kremlin is reportedly assembling a high-level negotiating team for direct talks with the U.S.

As the Trump administration continues its push for a Russia-U.S.-led peace process, European leaders face a critical test in maintaining their role in shaping the outcome of the war. The emergency summit in Paris will serve as a key moment in Europe’s response to Washington’s shifting priorities.