Winners of the Wiz deal: The cyber elite profiting from Google’s massive buyout
Palo Alto Networks founder Nir Zuk and NBA player turned VC Omri Casspi are just two of the surprise winners in the deal. The likes of Shlomo Kramer, Mickey Boodaei, and Marius Nacht are also all set to make a handsome profit through their investment in Gili Raanan’s Cyberstarts fund, which is believed to hold a $1.3 billion stake in Wiz.
Many offices in central Tel Aviv are celebrating today following reports that Google is acquiring Wiz for an astonishing $32 billion. This is excellent news for all Israelis, as the taxes paid by the company’s founders and employees—if and when the deal is finalized—will contribute to the local economy. However, some Israelis stand to benefit even more, including some of Wiz’s direct competitors.
The list of unexpected beneficiaries from the Wiz-Google deal highlights how tightly knit the Israeli cyber industry is. One could even describe it as a “clique” forged not only in the trenches of Startup Nation but also within elite IDF units like 8200 and Unit 81, which have served as the breeding ground for both Israeli and global cybersecurity talent.
Who are the biggest Israeli winners from the Wiz deal?
1. Nir Zuk
Perhaps the most surprising name on the list is Nir Zuk, the founder of Palo Alto Networks, the world’s largest cybersecurity company, which currently trades at a valuation of $120 billion on Wall Street. Zuk is a limited partner (LP) in Gili Raanan’s Cyberstarts venture capital fund, one of the first investors in Wiz. Unofficial estimates suggest that Cyberstarts holds a 4% stake in Wiz, which, after selling half its holdings to Blackstone in 2021, will still be worth about $1.3 billion in the Google deal.
Ironically, Palo Alto is one of Wiz’s biggest competitors and is a key reason for the sale. Facing tough competition from Zuk’s company—known for its aggressive market strategy and recent decision to offer some products for free—Wiz found it difficult to compete on its own. Google’s acquisition will integrate Wiz’s technology into its cloud offerings rather than positioning it as a direct competitor to Palo Alto. In a twist of fate, Zuk, who once challenged his former boss Gil Shwed at Check Point, now sees a rival taken off the playing field—just as he predicted two years ago when he stated: “If Wiz is worth $6 billion, Palo Alto is worth a trillion.”
2. Shlomo Kramer
Shlomo Kramer, another veteran of Israel’s cybersecurity elite, co-founded Check Point before moving on to launch Imperva and later Cato Networks. Recently, he competed head-to-head with Wiz to be the next big Israeli cybersecurity IPO on Wall Street. Kramer is also an investor in Cyberstarts and is set to see a strong return on his investment in the four-year-old company.
While Cato Networks doesn’t compete directly with Wiz, the deal still benefits Kramer. Google’s acquisition sets a new benchmark for cybersecurity valuations, which could either make Cato a more attractive target for acquisition or help it secure a higher valuation in its upcoming PO. Cato Networks was last valued at $3 billion and is aiming for a $5-6 billion valuation upon going public.
3. Mickey Boodaei
Mickey Boodaei, one of Israel’s most successful cybersecurity entrepreneurs and investors, co-founded Trusteer (sold to IBM for over $600 million) and Transmit Security, a leading identity and access management firm. Boodaei, known for his independent investment success, is also a backer of Cyberstarts, meaning he will profit from the fund’s massive return on Wiz.
Interestingly, Boodaei and Rakesh Loonkar—long-time partners in multiple ventures—have recently established Picture Capital, a new investment fund set to compete directly with Cyberstarts. The fund has raised $120 million to invest in early-stage cybersecurity companies.
4. Yevgeny Dibrov
Yevgeny Dibrov, co-founder and CEO of Armis, has a close connection to Wiz’s CEO Assaf Rappaport from their time together in Unit 81. Rappaport was Dibrov’s team leader and later recruited him to Adallom, the startup that was eventually sold to Microsoft for $320 million.
Dibrov will benefit twice from the Wiz deal—first through his direct investment in one of Wiz’s funding rounds and second through his stake in Cyberstarts. Meanwhile, Rappaport also invested early in Armis, which was last valued at $3.4 billion.
5. Marius Nacht
Marius Nacht, one of Check Point’s original co-founders, has largely shifted his focus away from cybersecurity in recent years, investing in life sciences and co-founding a digital bank. However, he still privately invested in Cyberstarts, meaning he will also see a windfall from Wiz’s sale.
6. Merav Bahat
Merav Bahat, CEO of Dazz, is another beneficiary of the Wiz deal. Previously, she managed Microsoft’s cybersecurity operations alongside Rappaport. She is believed to have invested in Wiz in its early stages, positioning her for a multimillion-dollar return.
7. Nadir Izrael and Michael Shaulov
Nadir Izrael, co-founder and CTO of Armis, is also an investor in Cyberstarts, as is Michael Shaulov, CEO of Fireblocks, an $8 billion cybersecurity unicorn. Shaulov’s journey includes selling his previous startup, Lacoon, to Check Point for $100 million in 2015.
8. Amichai Shulman
Amichai Shulman, co-founder of Imperva, has been an active investor since selling his company. Like many others in Israel’s cyber elite, he has a stake in Cyberstarts and will benefit from its windfall.
9. Omri Casspi
Former NBA player Omri Casspi has been building a name for himself in high-tech investments. He joined Cyberstarts early and will see a significant return on investment. Casspi also runs his own venture capital firm, Sheva, which has raised $50 million for cybersecurity investments.
10. Ofer Ben Noon
Entrepreneur Ofer Ben Noon, who recently sold Talon Cyber Security to Palo Alto for about $600 million, will also see gains from the Wiz deal due to his investment in Cyberstarts.
