Israeli AI Security Company Dream Raises $260 Million, Plans to Enter Latin America

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Israeli AI cybersecurity company Dream is betting that political shifts in Latin America will drive demand for its government-focused cybersecurity products. Co-founder Shalev Hulio said the company plans to open a regional office in Latin America to house R&D, sales, and engineering teams.

Dream provides national cyber defense services and is customizing AI platforms for governments and state-owned enterprises seeking to protect data. Hulio believes that changes in the political landscape in Latin America have created opportunities for the company. Over the past year, candidates with favorable ties to the United States and Israel have won elections in Bolivia, Honduras, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Peru, increasing market opportunities for Israeli suppliers. Hulio noted that the region has historically underinvested in cybersecurity, leaving defenses exposed, while newly elected tough-on-crime leaders are eager to combat drug cartels and corruption.

The company completed a $260 million funding round last week, valuing it at $3 billion, led by venture capital firms Bicycle Capital and Group 11. Hulio revealed that Dream has held talks with various Latin American governments and expects to decide on the location of its first regional office within weeks, with Bogotá, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and Rio de Janeiro as potential sites.

Colombia has emerged as a potential market. In last month's presidential runoff, conservative lawyer Abelardo De la Espriella won. Hulio said the incoming government's call to strengthen ties with Israel makes the country a possible destination for the company's expansion. De la Espriella, who will take office on August 7, stated that he has discussed with Israeli President Isaac Herzog the importance of restoring bilateral relations, which were severed under President Gustavo Petro in 2024. In Argentina, President Javier Milei has positioned the government as a low-regulation artificial intelligence hub and pledged to move the Argentine embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

According to World Bank research, Latin America and the Caribbean have become the fastest-growing region for cyberattacks and the least protected, with an average cybersecurity score of 10.2 out of 20. Public administration is the most targeted sector in the region. In Costa Rica, a ransomware attack in 2022 took tax and customs platforms offline, disrupted international trade, and forced hospitals to revert to paper systems, prompting the country to declare a national emergency. Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Peru have also experienced data breaches involving police, military, public alert, and supplier systems. Dream said it is already assisting some countries in the region facing cyberattacks, but Hulio declined to name them.

Hulio is also a co-founder of NSO Group, which developed Pegasus software used by governments to monitor target mobile phone content.