Key Takeaway
Darktrace, founded in 2013 by experts from intelligence backgrounds, gained momentum with a $22.5 million investment from Summit Partners in 2015. In 2016, it launched Darktrace Antigena, the first AI system for autonomous cyber defense. The company went public in 2021, valued at £1.7 billion. In 2024, private equity firm Thoma Bravo acquired Darktrace for $5.3 billion, taking it private and appointing Jill Popelka as CEO. Darktrace now protects nearly 10,000 customers globally and has been recognized as a leader in cybersecurity, emphasizing its critical role in the evolving market.
Darktrace: A Timeline
2013
Darktrace was established in Cambridge by mathematicians and cybersecurity experts with backgrounds in government intelligence, including co-founders Poppy Gustafsson, Dave Palmer, Emily Orton, Jack Stockdale, and Nicole Eagan.
2015
Summit Partners leads a Series B funding round with a US$22.5m investment, supporting Darktrace’s global expansion and technology development.
2016
The launch of Darktrace Antigena introduces revolutionary Autonomous Response technology that can counter cyber-attacks in real-time, marking the first AI system capable of autonomous cyber defense.
2021
Darktrace successfully completes its IPO on the London Stock Exchange, achieving a valuation of £1.7bn (US$2.37bn) and becoming one of the UK’s most significant tech listings.
2024
Private equity firm Thoma Bravo proposes to acquire Darktrace for US$5.3bn, acknowledging the company’s leading position in AI cybersecurity.
2024
Thoma Bravo officially completes the acquisition of Darktrace, taking the company private and providing funding for ongoing innovation and global expansion under new CEO Jill Popelka.
Global Leadership
Darktrace’s innovations have led to remarkable commercial success. The company currently safeguards nearly 10,000 customers across 110 countries and employs over 2,400 people worldwide.
The company has been recognized as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Network Detection and Response, affirming its status as an industry benchmark.
Its growth trajectory culminated in its £4.3bn (US$5.9bn) acquisition by private equity firm Thoma Bravo, which was finalized in late 2024.
Jill, who brings over two decades of experience from global technology firms such as SAP SuccessFactors, Snap, and Accenture, emphasizes the company’s customer-centric approach.
“The potential of Darktrace is immense—our technology has never been more vital to organizations worldwide, and our AI-native capabilities place us at the forefront of the rapidly evolving cybersecurity market,” she stated upon her appointment as CEO in September 2024.
