With artificial intelligence fueling a surge in malicious bot activity, businesses face an increasing wave of cyber threats, from DDoS attacks to data scraping. While large enterprises can often weather these threats, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are at a higher risk, says cybersecurity entrepreneur Nikita Rozenberg.
Recognizing this growing challenge, Rozenberg founded Blackwall, an Estonia-based cybersecurity startup formerly known as BotGuard. Unlike major players such as Cloudflare and Imperva, Blackwall tailors its solutions specifically for SMBs, offering protection against bot-driven fraud and cyber threats.
Blackwall’s commitment to SMB protection has shaped its product roadmap. The company recently launched an ad fraud prevention tool designed to safeguard e-commerce businesses from bots that waste ad spend. This innovative approach and rapid expansion caught the attention of Dawn Capital, a B2B-focused venture capital firm, leading a €45 million ($49.2 million) Series B funding round.
The newly secured funding will accelerate the development of new solutions beyond its flagship product, GateKeeper—a reverse proxy that inspects and filters malicious traffic in real time using AI. Beyond bots, GateKeeper also detects and blocks various cyber intrusions, reinforcing SMB security.
A Rebrand Inspired by Cybersecurity & Gaming
To reflect its expanded capabilities, the startup rebranded as Blackwall—a name suggested by co-founder Denis Prochko, inspired by the firewall in the video game Cyberpunk 2077, which protects the Net from rogue AIs. While its namesake is deeply embedded in gaming lore, Blackwall operates with a far lower profile. Its solutions are designed to be automated, easy to use, and nearly invisible to end users—crucial features for SMBs lacking dedicated security teams.
Rather than selling directly to SMBs, Blackwall operates on a channel-based model, collaborating with hosting service providers, managed service providers, and e-commerce platforms. By integrating Blackwall’s security solutions, these partners can reduce their costs from malicious traffic while offering better protection to their customers—creating a mutually beneficial business model.
The startup’s approach targets midmarket companies that lack the budget to build in-house cybersecurity solutions, unlike industry giants such as GoDaddy. This strategy has proven highly effective, helping Blackwall scale rapidly since its 2019 launch.
Blackwall currently protects over 2.3 million websites and applications, supported by a team of 65 employees. With the latest funding round, the company plans to double its headcount and accelerate expansion into the U.S. and APAC regions. This growth will be backed by both Dawn Capital and MMC Ventures, the latter of which led Blackwall’s €12 million ($13.1 million) Series A round just a year ago.
As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, Blackwall’s AI-driven security solutions offer a crucial layer of defense for SMBs. With strong investor backing and a growing global footprint, the company is poised to become a leading force in the fight against malicious bots and cyber attacks.
