Socket hits unicorn status with $60M Series C for AI-era software security

Socket, a San Francisco-based cybersecurity startup focused on securing the open-source software supply chain, has raised $60 million in a Series C funding round at a $1 billion valuation. The round was led by Thrive Capital, with participation from existing backers Andreessen Horowitz and Abstract Ventures, as well as new investor Capital One Ventures. The Series C brings Socket’s total funding to approximately $125 million and cements its status as a unicorn as enterprises race to secure the code that underpins modern software.

Founded in 2020, Socket provides a developer-first security platform that analyzes open-source dependencies for malicious or risky behavior, a capability that has grown more important as AI-assisted coding tools dramatically increase the volume and speed of code being written. The company’s tools are used to protect software supply chains against threats such as dependency hijacking and nation-state actors targeting open-source components. With the new capital, Socket plans to accelerate product development and expand its team to meet rising demand from large enterprises and AI-driven engineering organizations seeking continuous, automated protection for their software development pipelines.