:

DREAM RAISES $260M AT $3B VALUATION

AI DESK1 MIN READ
THU, JUN 18, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE ▸ TIMELINE

Dream, an Israeli AI and cybersecurity company founded by ex-NSO Group CEO Shalev Hulio, has raised $260 million in funding at a $3 billion valuation, tripling its worth from $1 billion in 2025.

The funding round reflects growing investor confidence in Dream's focus on protecting critical infrastructure through artificial intelligence and cybersecurity solutions. The company serves governments and critical infrastructure operators, positioning itself in the expanding market for securing essential services against cyber threats. Hulio founded Dream after his tenure leading NSO Group, the Israeli surveillance firm known for developing the Pegasus spyware platform. The new venture shifts focus toward defensive capabilities rather than offensive surveillance tools. The valuation jump from $1 billion to $3 billion in a single year signals strong market demand for infrastructure protection services. As governments worldwide prioritize cybersecurity resilience amid rising threats, companies offering AI-driven defense solutions have attracted significant capital. Dream's rapid ascent reflects broader trends in the cybersecurity sector, where venture funding continues flowing toward startups addressing critical infrastructure vulnerabilities. The company joins a growing roster of Israeli tech firms specializing in defense and security applications.

■ SOURCES

Techmeme

■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

■ MORE FROM THE STARTUPS DESK

Two former Nubank executives have founded an AI startup launching a financial-advisory service in Brazil. The move capitalizes on rapid consumer adoption of digital financial tools like Pix and mobile banking.

JUST NOWAI Desk

June, a platform designed to identify bottlenecks and build AI agents for large organizations, emerged from stealth with $20 million in funding led by Marc Benioff's Time Ventures.

8H AGOAI Desk

Valar Atomics secured $1 billion in Series B funding led by Sequoia Capital to build America's first gigawatt-scale nuclear sites. The company also closed a $200 million credit facility to establish the world's first vertically integrated industrial nuclear power operation.

10H AGOAI Desk

Enterprise data pipeline startup DataBahn secured $40 million in Series B funding led by Insight Partners, bringing total funding to $59 million. The capital will accelerate development of its agentic data control plane.

12H AGOAI Desk

■ SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF

ONE EMAIL, 5 STORIES, 06:00 UTC. UNSUBSCRIBE ANYTIME.