Investor Profile: Forgepoint Capital — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

Forgepoint Capital funding is one of the purest plays in venture: a specialist firm that invests only in cybersecurity, AI and infrastructure software. Founded in 2015 in San Mateo, California, with a London office, the firm manages over $1 billion in AUM and a portfolio of more than 40 companies. Its team — described as the largest sector-focused investment team in cybersecurity — has collectively backed 75+ cybersecurity companies, and it is advised by a Global Advisory Council of more than 100 industry leaders. For cyber founders, a Forgepoint term sheet is domain-expert validation.

Forgepoint Capital funding: thesis and focus areas

The thesis is thesis-driven, operator-led cybersecurity investing from seed through growth. Focus spans identity, data security, AI/GenAI security, cyber risk management, DevSecOps, software supply chain, GRC, DSPM/ASPM, security log data management and infrastructure software — 'cybersecurity is now synonymous with software', in the firm's own framing. Fund II, a $450 million vehicle closed in 2020 (covered by TechCrunch), targets six to ten new cybersecurity companies per year. Forgepoint also incubates companies in-house — SolCyber and Surefire Cyber were launched inside the firm.

Fund size and cheque sizes

Over $1 billion in AUM (stated on the firm's official LinkedIn and press materials). Individual cheque sizes are not publicly disclosed by the firm. Third-party venture databases cite a typical $2M–$20M range — included here only as market context, not an official figure. Stages: seed, Series A, Series B, Series C and growth.

Notable portfolio

Exits validate the model: Attivo Networks (acquired by SentinelOne) and Area 1 Security (acquired by Cloudflare). Active and recent portfolio names include AlienVault, BehavioSec, GetReal Security (Forgepoint led its $17.5M Series A for deepfake-content verification), Bishop Fox, ReversingLabs, RAD Security, Huntress (SMB cybersecurity), SPHERE, CyberCube, 1Kosmos, Nudge Security, Lumu and RapidFort.

Team and leads

Co-founded by managing directors Alberto Yépez (founder of Trustwave, former MD at Trident Capital Cybersecurity, 30+ years in security) and Don Dixon (35+ years in venture capital, former MD at Trident Capital), alongside managing directors Andrew McClure and Ernie Bio, with partner Damien Henault in London. The firm also runs an operating-partner bench and its 100+ leader advisory council.

Programmes, credits and product tie-ins

Forgepoint has no accelerator; the platform is its network: the Global Advisory Council of 100+ practitioners, founders, executives and government officials for strategic guidance and customer connections, an operating team that works hands-on from first cheque to exit, and an active community programme (VIP events, talent support). Yépez publicly positions the firm as founder-accessible: he invites entrepreneurs to reach out via LinkedIn.

How to apply for funding from Forgepoint Capital

There is no public application form. The official channel is [email protected] — the firm's own listing says investment, career and partnership enquiries go there (it also warns that generic automated emails are not viewed favourably). The higher-probability routes are a warm introduction from a portfolio founder or a co-investor, or direct, specific outreach to a partner such as Alberto Yépez on LinkedIn with a crisp security thesis. As a sector specialist, Forgepoint rewards technical depth: lead with the threat model, not the TAM slide.