The media, citing knowledgeable insiders, report that the startup Wiz Inc., which operates in the cybersecurity area, is currently in discussions regarding the sale of existing shares at a valuation of up to $20 billion.
It’s worth noting that in July, the mentioned company abandoned the deal, under which it was to be acquired by Alphabet Inc.’s Google. The cost of this business agreement, which remained an unrealized probability in the past, was $23 billion.
According to insiders, the startup is currently talking about the deal, which will provide existing shareholders with the opportunity to tender from $500 million to $700 million of their holdings. The interlocutors of the journalists used the right of anonymity, noting that the potential deal is discussed confidentially. Insiders also said that the valuation being discussed ranges from $15 billion to $20 billion.
Moreover, a startup can raise money directly from investors. This was reported by one of the insiders. The interlocutors of the journalists also draw attention to the fact that the terms of the offering may change.
Wiz, based in New York, connects to cloud storage providers such as Amazon Web Services and Azure. The startup scans the data stored there for security threats.
Wiz has not yet responded to a media request for comments on insider information.
It’s worth noting that the issue of cybersecurity has become more relevant recently. In a significant situation, this is because criminals have access to advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence. Due to the use of the mentioned category technologies, their activities have become more sophisticated. Against the background of this threat, personal awareness of users is important. For example, an Internet search query, such as how to know if my camera is hacked, will allow anyone to get information about signs of unauthorized access to the device.