AvalonX, an AI security startup, has raised $10 million in funding from Ridown Capital to launch its continuous, AI-powered penetration testing platform for small and midsize businesses (SMBs). The platform, designed to address the gap in security testing for smaller organizations, combines autonomous testing agents with human expertise.
TL;DR
- AvalonX raises $10M from Ridown Capital to launch its AI-powered penetration testing platform for SMBs.
- The platform, Artemis, uses a 400-billion-parameter security AI trained on nine years of real-world offensive-security data.
- AvalonX aims to provide continuous, on-demand penetration testing that SMBs can afford, addressing the gap in security testing for smaller organizations.
What happened
AvalonX, an AI security startup, has emerged from 18 months of stealth to launch its continuous, AI-powered penetration testing platform. The platform, Artemis, is designed to provide SMBs with the same level of offensive security testing that large enterprises typically have access to.
The platform uses autonomous agents to test a company's defenses the way a malicious actor would, searching for ways in and determining how far attackers can move once inside. AvalonX's penetration testers add human judgment when needed, ensuring customers receive meaningful, actionable findings.
AvalonX has raised $10 million in funding from Ridown Capital, the investment firm of Onecom co-founders Aaron Brown and Darren Ridge. Onecom serves more than 65,000 SMBs, giving Brown and Ridge a close view of the technology and security challenges those companies face.
Why it matters
AvalonX's platform addresses the gap in security testing for SMBs, which often face the same threats as large enterprises but have smaller teams, less money, and fewer opportunities to test their defenses. According to Verizon's 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report, ransomware was involved in 88% of breaches at SMBs, compared with 39% at larger organizations.
The platform's combination of autonomous testing agents and human expertise provides speed, scale, and meaningful, actionable findings. This makes continuous penetration testing practical for smaller businesses through a monthly subscription.
The investment from Ridown Capital builds on Brown and Ridge's broader focus on bringing enterprise capabilities to smaller businesses. Ridown Group's portfolio spans telecommunications, cybersecurity, and e-commerce, with revenues of more than $500 million in the U.K. alone.
Key facts
- AvalonX has raised $10 million in funding from Ridown Capital.
- The platform, Artemis, uses a 400-billion-parameter security AI trained on nine years of real-world offensive-security data.
- AvalonX's platform combines autonomous testing agents with human expertise to provide continuous, on-demand penetration testing.
- Ridown Capital is the investment arm of Ridown Group, led by Aaron Brown and Darren Ridge.
- Onecom, a Ridown Group company, serves more than 65,000 SMBs in the U.K.
- AvalonX is led by cybersecurity veterans Craig Goodwin, Ricardo Valdes, and Ben O'Nion, who bring more than 50 years of combined information security and technology experience.
- AvalonX is available now, and businesses can run a free initial test at www.avalonx.ai.
- AvalonX Inc. is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Context
AvalonX's launch comes at a time when cybersecurity threats are increasing, and SMBs are often targeted due to their perceived weaker defenses. The platform's focus on continuous, on-demand penetration testing addresses a critical need for SMBs to stay ahead of evolving threats.
The investment from Ridown Capital highlights the growing interest in AI-powered security solutions for SMBs. As more businesses move online, the need for robust cybersecurity measures becomes increasingly important.
AvalonX's platform is part of a broader trend in the AI industry to make advanced technologies more accessible to smaller businesses. By providing enterprise-grade security testing at an affordable price, AvalonX is helping to level the playing field for SMBs.