Belgian cybersecurity unicorn Aikido Security tops latest Sifted ranking
Belgian cybersecurity unicorn Aikido Security tops latest Sifted ranking
https://sifted.eu/articles/belgian-cybersecurity-unicorn-aikido-security-tops-ranking
Publish Date: 2026-06-10 00:03:00
Source Domain: sifted.eu
Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points. Aikido Security, a Ghent-based security software developer, tops the third Sifted 100: France and Benelux Leaderboard — an annual ranking of the 100 fastest-growing companies in the region, in partnership with AI infrastructure company Nebius.In second place is Paris-based Mister IA, which provides AI training for companies.Third is Paris-based Inbolt, which provides software to enhance industrial robots that build cars and electronics. The leaderboard ranks 100 companies with the strongest revenue growth over the past three financial years, calculated using a two-year revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Cofounded by Willem Delbare, Madeline Lawrence, Felix Garriau and Roeland Delrue in 2022, Aikido notched a 947.14% two-year revenue CAGR between 2023 and 2025.As a Belgian cybersecurity company, standing out requires effort. “The biggest cyber firms typically come from the US or Tel Aviv,” says Delrue, the COO. “So we had our work cut out for us. There was a lot of reputation-building needed.”The secret, Delrue says, is to keep things very simple. “We made it very easy for anyone who wanted to buy the product. Pricing was online, help docs were online,” he says. “Usually that information is nowhere to be found: you have to do maybe six sales calls before you get a demo.” Martin Pavanello, cofounder and CEO of Mister IA, leads his company to a 558.28% CAGR; Inbolt, led by Rudy Cohen, hits a 508.28% two-year CAGR.Paris, B2B triumphsFor the third year in a row, Paris remains the dominant hub with 64 startups — 5% more than last year. Amsterdam is home to eight and Antwerp and Brussels each host three.B2B software is, once again, the top-performing vertical with 37 companies. Healthtech saw the biggest downturn, with only four companies, down from seven in 2025 and 10 in 2024.Twenty-one of the companies on the ranking are AI-native, up from five last year.Fifteen companies in the top 100 have already raised funding in 2026. Of those, Amsterdam-based hospitality software provider Mews has raised the biggest sum: a €277m Series D round.Thirty-three of the 100 ranked startups report they’re profitable.The 10 fastest-growing startups in France and the Benelux in 2026:1) Aikido Security: Helps companies to secure their code, cloud, and runtime in one central system2) Mister IA: AI training for companies3) Inbolt: Software to enhance industrial robots4) Roundtable: Private investment pooling platform5) Beloy: Embedded insurance for businesses6) Dust: AI workflow automation platform7) meilisearch: Search infrastructure for apps8) Nabla: AI clinical note-taking software9) Primo: IT management software for SMEs10) Electra: Fast EV charging networkView the full, digital version of the leaderboard hereHow the 100 were chosenTo be eligible, companies had to meet the following criteria:
Private and independent
Headquartered in France, the Netherlands, Belgium or Luxembourg
Founded no earlier than 2010
Majority of revenue must be generated by proprietary technology
At least three years of revenue data, either between 2022-2024, 2023-2025 or 2024-2026 depending on filing dates, across comparable accounting periods of at least 26 weeks
Revenue (annualised if necessary) of at least €10k in the base year (2022, 2023 or 2024) and at least €100k in the most recent financial year (2024, 2025 or 2026)
Research was conducted by the Sifted Intelligence team to identify and contact relevant, high-growth startups. Applications were accepted on the Sifted website from January 1 to May 31, 2026.Companies were required to submit relevant, signed documentation to support financial information disclosed to Sifted. Some companies chose to keep some of this information private.Sifted Leaderboards do not claim to be exhaustive as private company data can be difficult to obtain. Leaderboards are based on historical financial data and do not guarantee future company performance.
