Rilian, a McLean, Virginia–based provider of AI-native cybersecurity and defense systems integration capabilities, has secured $17.5 million in Seed and Seed extension funding.
Investors
The round was led by 8VC, First In, and Tamarack Global, with participation from 8090 Industries, Liquid 2 Ventures, Perot Jain, and Protego Ventures.
Founded in 2015, 8VC is a technology and life sciences venture capital firm that manages over $6 billion in assets. The firm invests in transformative technology and life sciences companies across sectors, including healthcare, logistics, defense, and IT infrastructure. based in Austin, Texas, with additional offices in San Francisco and New York.
First In is a Washington, D.C.–based seed-stage venture capital firm focused on the intersection of cybersecurity, defense innovation, and enterprise security. The firm leverages deep domain expertise to invest in dual-use technologies, solutions that have both commercial enterprise value and critical applications for national security.
Tamarack Global is a venture capital firm based in Darien, Connecticut, specializing in frontier technology. It invests in companies that use complex engineering and data to solve large-scale physical and digital challenges. The firm backs category-defining companies across space, defense, autonomous systems, and energy transition.
Rilian Use of Funds
The company will use the funding to expand its presence across the U.S., GCC countries, and allied nations. It will also support go-to-market initiatives, hiring of engineering talent, and continued R&D in agentic AI-powered cyber and defense systems.
About Rilian
Founded by Christian Schnedler, Nick Pompeo, and Dan Fischer, Rilian is an AI-native cybersecurity and defense systems integration company focused on enabling governments, critical infrastructure operators, and enterprises to operationalize advanced cyber capabilities at scale. Its flagship platform, Caspian, an agentic security orchestration system that integrates and automates cyber and defense tools across complex environments, including sovereign cloud, on-premises, and air-gapped systems. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Rilian’s mission is to enhance global security by advancing cutting-edge cyber and defense capabilities across the U.S. and its allies.
Funding Details
Company: Rilian Technologies, Inc.
Raised: $17.5M
Round: Seed
Funding Date: April 2026
Lead Investors: 8VC, First In, Tamarack Global
Additional Investors: 8090 Industries, Liquid 2 Ventures, Perot Jain, Protego Ventures
Company Website: https://www.rilian.com/
Software Category: AI Cybersecurity / Defense Technology / Agentic AI Platforms
Source: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260423773644/en/