C

COGNNA

AI-driven SOC threat detection & response

Overview

COGNNA offers a Security Operations Center (SOC) platform called COGNNA Nexus, delivered as SaaS with optional on-premises or hybrid deployment, that detects and responds to cyber threats. It works by integrating with a client’s endpoints, networks, and cloud services and uses AI agents to provide real-time visibility, context-rich alerts, and automated tasks such as alert triage, threat hunting, and incident investigation. COGNNA differentiates itself by focusing the agentic AI SOC on the cybersecurity needs and regulatory standards of the MENA region, and by offering 24/7 managed SOC services plus a partner-driven go-to-market with VARs, distributors, and OEMs. The goal is to help organizations in the region proactively detect threats, reduce security analyst workload, and speed up incident response through proactive threat detection, adaptive risk management, and streamlined operations.

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About COGNNA

Simplify's Rating
Why COGNNA is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Data & AnalyticsEnterprise SoftwareCybersecurityAI & Machine Learning

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Series A

Total Funding

$11.5M

Headquarters

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Founded

2022

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What believers are saying

  • Wa'ed Ventures invested in November 2026, extending COGNNA's funding runway.
  • COGNNA's December 2025 Series A raised $9.2 million from Impact46 and BNVT.
  • Google Cloud named COGNNA its first Agentic AI cybersecurity partner in MENA.

What critics are saying

  • Google, Microsoft, and SentinelOne bundle security AI into existing enterprise contracts.
  • COGNNA's tiny scale leaves it vulnerable if growth stalls before profitability.
  • A failed regional expansion would trap COGNNA against larger global SOC vendors.

What makes COGNNA unique

  • Nexus connects 300-plus tools across Microsoft Defender, Sentinel, Google SecOps, and OT systems.
  • Saudi NCA licensing and SDAIA certification create regional compliance advantages.
  • COGNNA blends AI triage with human-led response, not software-only telemetry.

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Funding

Total Funding

$11.4M

Below

Industry Average

Funded Over

2 Rounds

Series A funding typically happens when a startup has a product and some customers, and now needs funding to scale. This money is usually used to grow the team, expand marketing, and improve the product. Venture capital firms are frequently the main investors here.
Series A Funding Comparison
Below Average

Industry standards

$15M
$8.2M
$9.2M
$15M
$30M

Benefits

  • Company Equity
  • Professional Development Budget

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

-1%

1 year growth

-1%

2 year growth

-4%
CairoScene
Nov 9th, 2026
Saudi cybersecurity startup COGNNA gets Wa'ed Ventures backing for agentic AI platform

Saudi cybersecurity company COGNNA has received investment from Wa'ed Ventures to support its expansion and develop its AI-powered security operations offering. Financial terms were not disclosed. Founded in 2022, COGNNA provides managed detection and response services through Nexus, its agentic AI security operations platform. Nexus connects security tools across Microsoft Defender XDR and Sentinel, Google SecOps, SIEM, endpoint detection and response, cloud systems, and operational technology environments through more than 300 integrations. The platform combines automated alert triage with investigation and response led by COGNNA's security experts. The company also offers compliance and governance services, security assessments, advisory services, and incident response. COGNNA is licensed by Saudi Arabia's National Cybersecurity Authority and certified by the Saudi Data and AI Authority. It serves organisations across the GCC and other markets.

CairoScene
Nov 9th, 2026
COGNNA secures investment from Wa'ed Ventures.

COGNNA secures investment from Wa'ed Ventures. The Saudi cybersecurity company uses agentic AI to help organisations detect, investigate and respond to cyber threats. Nov 09, 2026 Saudi cybersecurity company COGNNA has received investment from Wa'ed Ventures to support its expansion and further develop its AI-powered security operations offering. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founded in 2022, COGNNA provides managed detection and response services through Nexus, its agentic AI security operations platform. The company says Nexus connects security tools across Microsoft Defender XDR and Sentinel, Google SecOps, SIEM, endpoint detection and response, cloud systems and operational technology environments through more than 300 integrations. The platform combines automated alert triage with investigation and response led by COGNNA's security experts. The company also offers compliance and governance services, risk and compliance support, security assessments, advisory services and incident response. COGNNA says it is licensed by Saudi Arabia's National Cybersecurity Authority and certified by the Saudi Data and AI Authority, with a focus on serving organisations across the GCC and other markets.

Startup Scene
Nov 7th, 2026
COGNNA secures investment from Wa'ed Ventures.

COGNNA secures investment from Wa'ed Ventures. Nov 09, 2026 Nov 08, 2026 The Saudi cybersecurity company uses agentic AI to help organisations detect, investigate and respond to cyber threats. Nov 09, 2026 Saudi cybersecurity company COGNNA has received investment from Wa'ed Ventures to support its expansion and further develop its AI-powered security operations offering. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founded in 2022, COGNNA provides managed detection and response services through Nexus, its agentic AI security operations platform. The company says Nexus connects security tools across Microsoft Defender XDR and Sentinel, Google SecOps, SIEM, endpoint detection and response, cloud systems and operational technology environments through more than 300 integrations. The platform combines automated alert triage with investigation and response led by COGNNA's security experts. The company also offers compliance and governance services, risk and compliance support, security assessments, advisory services and incident response. COGNNA says it is licensed by Saudi Arabia's National Cybersecurity Authority and certified by the Saudi Data and AI Authority, with a focus on serving organisations across the GCC and other markets.

Lucidity Insights
Dec 3rd, 2025
COGNNA Lands $9.2M Series A to Expand Its AI-Driven Security Platform

COGNNA lands $9.2M Series A to expand its ai-driven security platform. Ibrahim Alshamrani and Ziyad Alshehri, COGNNA Co-Founders Saudi cybersecurity startup COGNNA has raised $9.2 million in Series A funding to scale its AI-led security operations platform. The round was led by Impact46, co-led by BNVT Capital, and joined by Vision Ventures and tali ventures. The announcement came during Black Hat MEA 2025 in Riyadh. The raise follows COGNNA's $2.25 million seed round closed in November 2023, also led by Impact46 with participation from Vision Ventures, Faith Capital and other investors. COGNNA, founded by CEO Ibrahim AlShamrani and CTO Ziyad AlSheri, is building an AI-driven security operations platform that automates detection, prediction and response. The company describes its system as an "agentic SOC" that aims to anticipate attacks before they disrupt organisations. COGNNA says its Nexus platform delivers faster threat detection, lower security operations costs and enterprise deployment in under 30 minutes. "This funding represents more than capital. It is a validation of our vision to protect the digital future of humanity," AlShamrani said. AlSheri added that the company is focused on shifting cybersecurity from reactive defence to "intelligent prevention," accelerating R&D in AI automation and global expansion. Investors say the startup stands out for its technical depth in a market that has been dominated by global players. Impact46 managing partner Basmah Alsinaidi said, "COGNNA is one of the few teams in the region pushing real technical depth in cybersecurity. Their work with agentic AI gives enterprises something they have been asking for: clarity, speed and reliability in moments where it matters most." Vision Ventures CEO and founding partner Kais Al Essa said COGNNA's platform reflects "years of hands-on experience" solving real security problems in the Gulf. "They understand the gaps that organisations in our region deal with and have been building their platform around real operational needs, not theoretical ones. We believe they can grow from strong regional capability into a company that competes confidently on the global stage." The Series A round will support global expansion, hiring across engineering and SOC operations, and further development of COGNNA's AI-led SecOps platform. The company is one of the fastest-moving security startups in Saudi Arabia as demand for intelligent, scalable cybersecurity accelerates across the region.

Wamda
Dec 3rd, 2025
COGNNA secures $9.2 million Series A to accelerate global expansion

COGNNA secures $9.2 million Series A to accelerate global expansion. * Saudi Arabia-based cybersecurity startup COGNNA raised $9.2 million in a Series A round led by Impact46, co-led by BNVT Capital, with participation from Vision Ventures and Tali Ventures. * Founded in 2022 by Ibrahim Alshamrani and Ziyad Alshehri, COGNNA utilises AI and advanced data analysis to detect threats in customers' systems and networks. * With the new funding, the company plans major investments in product development, sales expansion, operations, and team growth, alongside advancing its AI capabilities and scaling its Agentic SOC platform. * In 2023, COGNNA closed its Seed round at $2.25 million, led by IMPACT46, with participation from Vision Ventures, Faith Capital, and other investors. COGNNA, the Saudi AI-led cybersecurity company, announced today that it has raised $9.2 million in a Series A funding round led by Impact46, co-led by BNVT Capital, with participation from Vision Ventures and Tali Ventures. Founded in 2022 by Ibrahim Alshamrani, COGNNA provides proactive, scalable, and cost-effective cybersecurity operations for enterprises and SMEs. Its platform combines advanced AI automation with expert human oversight to help organisations simplify compliance, strengthen resilience, and scale security in line with business growth. The new funding will accelerate COGNNA's global expansion, support major investments in product development, sales growth, operations, and team hiring, and enhance the company's AI capabilities. COGNNA aims to scale its Agentic SOC platform - designed to anticipate and defend against threats in real time rather than simply react to them. "Through our AI-led platform, we are building an Agentic SOC that doesn't just respond to threats - it anticipates them," said Ziyad AlSheri, CTO of COGNNA. "This funding allows us to accelerate our R&D in AI and automation, scale globally, and continue delivering security that learns, adapts, and protects in real time." COGNNA will allocate the investment across four key areas: * Product Development - advancing AI automation and enhancing platform scalability. * Sales and Marketing - strengthening market presence across MENA and entering global markets. * Team Expansion - growing engineering and SOC operations teams to meet rising demand. * Operations - building infrastructure to support global scalability and operational resilience. With increasing cyber threats and rising demand for intelligent cybersecurity, COGNNA is positioning itself as a global player delivering high-impact, AI-led protection across markets.

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