How Assaf Rappaport sold Wiz to Google for $32,000,000,000

Mar 23, 2025

Wiz

Wiz is a cloud security platform that helps businesses detect and remediate risks across their cloud environments.

Exit: $32,000,000,000

Buyer: Google

Date: 18/03/2025

Founder’s Backstory
Launch
Traction & KPI
Exit
The Buyer
Currently working on
Connect

1. Who is Assaf Rappaport?

Assaf Rappaport was born on August 28, 1983, in Israel.

He is the co-founder and CEO of Wiz, a cloud security company that provides advanced cybersecurity solutions for enterprises.

Before Wiz, he co-founded Adallom, a cloud security startup acquired by Microsoft for $320 million in 2015. He then led Microsoft’s Cloud Security division before leaving to start Wiz in 2020.

Assaf played a key role in growing Wiz into one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity startups, culminating in its acquisition by Google for $32 billion in 2025.

2. What did Assaf do before launching Wiz that contributed to his success?

Assaf Rappaport studied computer science at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
After completing his studies, he served in Unit 8200, the elite Israeli military intelligence unit known for producing top cybersecurity entrepreneurs.
In 2012, Assaf co-founded Adallom, a cloud security startup that developed innovative protection solutions for SaaS applications. The company gained traction quickly and was acquired by Microsoft in 2015 for $320 million.
Following the acquisition, Assaf led Microsoft’s Cloud Security division, where he played a crucial role in strengthening the company’s security offerings.
In 2020, he left Microsoft to co-found Wiz, which became the fastest-growing cybersecurity startup in history, ultimately leading to its $32 billion acquisition by Google in 2025.

3. How did Assaf come to launch Wiz?

In 2019, Assaf Rappaport left Microsoft after leading its Cloud Security division.

Having gained deep insights into enterprise security challenges, he recognized a growing need for a more efficient, scalable, and user-friendly cloud security platform.Assaf and his Adallom co-founders, Ami Luttwak, Yinon Costica, and Roy Reznik, reunited to develop a next-generation cloud security solution.

They built Wiz with a unique agentless approach, allowing companies to scan their entire cloud infrastructure within minutes without installing any software.

Wiz was officially founded in January 2020, and its rapid adoption by Fortune 500 companies made it the fastest-growing cybersecurity startup ever. By 2025, Wiz had become a dominant player in cloud security, leading to its $32 billion acquisition by Google.

4.What were the key milestones reached by Wiz?

May 27, 2020: Raised $100 million in Series A funding led by Sequoia Capital and Index Ventures, achieving unicorn status within six months of launch.
December 9, 2020: Raised $130 million in Series B, increasing Wiz’s valuation to $1.7 billion.
March 24, 2021: Raised $250 million in Series C, bringing its valuation to $6 billion.
August 2022: Achieved $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) within 18 months of launch, becoming the fastest software company to reach this milestone.
October 11, 2022: Raised $300 million in Series D, reaching a valuation of $10 billion and becoming one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity companies ever.
February 27, 2024: Raised $1 billion in Series E, increasing its valuation to $12 billion.
February 2024: Reported $350 million in ARR, capturing a 45% market share among Fortune 100 companies.
March 18, 2025: Google acquires Wiz for $32 billion, making it Google’s largest cybersecurity acquisition to date.

5. What were Wiz KPI right before selling?

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR): Surpassed $500 million in 2024, with projections to reach $1 billion by mid-2025.
Customer Base: Served approximately 35% of Fortune 100 companies by 2024, reflecting significant penetration into top-tier enterprises.
Employee Count: Grew to around 1,800 employees globally by 2025, with a significant presence in Israel.
Product Offerings: Expanded its platform to include services like Wiz Code and Wiz Defend, enhancing its comprehensive cloud security solutions.
Valuation: Achieved a valuation of $12 billion after a Series E funding round in May 2024.
Partnerships: Established collaborations with major cloud providers, including AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud, ensuring its security solutions were integrated across diverse cloud environments.
Funding: Raised a total of $1.9 billion from prominent venture capital firms and private investors across multiple funding rounds.

6. The Exit

On March 18, 2025, Assaf Rappaport sold Wiz to Google for $32 billion.

The deal was Google’s largest cybersecurity acquisition and included an all-cash transaction.

7. How did Assaf decide to sell Wiz to Google?

In mid-2024, Google initially offered $23 billion to acquire Wiz, but the offer was declined due to concerns over regulatory approval and a preference for pursuing an initial public offering (IPO).

However, in March 2025, Google presented an improved offer of $32 billion, which included a substantial termination fee to address previous concerns.

This enhanced proposal, coupled with a more favorable regulatory environment under the new U.S. administration, led Assaf Rappaport and the Wiz leadership team to accept the acquisition, recognizing the strategic benefits and the opportunity to accelerate their mission within Google’s expansive resources.

8. The Buyer

Google LLC is a multinational technology company headquartered in Mountain View, California. It is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. and one of the world’s largest technology companies, specializing in search, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

Google Cloud, led by CEO Thomas Kurian, has been expanding its security portfolio to compete with AWS and Microsoft Azure, making Wiz a strategic acquisition.

For the fiscal year 2024, Alphabet Inc. reported $350 billion in revenue, with Google Cloud contributing $42 billion. At the time of the Wiz acquisition in March 2025, Alphabet’s market capitalization was around $1.8 trillion.

9. Why did they acquire WIZ?

Google acquired Wiz for several strategic reasons:

Strengthen Cloud Security Leadership: Google Cloud sought to enhance its cybersecurity capabilities to compete more effectively with AWS and Microsoft Azure. Wiz’s agentless security platform provided a cutting-edge solution.
Expand Enterprise Customer Base: Wiz had a strong presence among Fortune 500 companies, helping Google deepen its relationships with large enterprise clients.
Innovative Technology: Wiz’s cloud-native security model, which scans entire infrastructures without requiring agents, was a game-changer for cloud security.
Leadership and Talent: The acquisition brought Assaf Rappaport and his team—some of the top cybersecurity minds in the industry—into Google’s leadership.
Accelerate Security Offerings: Wiz’s rapid innovation cycle allowed Google to speed up its security product roadmap and deliver advanced security solutions.
Competitive Advantage: Acquiring Wiz positioned Google ahead of Microsoft and AWS in cloud security, a growing multi-billion-dollar market.
Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management: With cybersecurity threats increasing globally, Wiz’s solutions helped Google address compliance and risk management challenges more effectively.
Revenue Growth: Wiz had $500 million in ARR and was on track to hit $1 billion in annual revenue, making it a strong revenue-generating asset.

10. Assaf Rappaport’s Advice

1. Lead with People First

Assaf emphasizes the importance of building a strong team as the foundation for success. He believes that focusing on people before processes and technology leads to better outcomes.

2. Embrace Risk and Uncertainty

Leaving a stable position at Microsoft during turbulent times, Assaf co-founded Wiz amidst a global pandemic. This bold move highlights his belief in taking calculated risks to pursue innovative ideas.

3. Maintain Humility

Despite his success, Assaf is known for his humility, often interacting with employees on equal footing and valuing simplicity over material possessions.

4. Adapt to Market Needs

Assaf advises exploring industry gaps, engaging with customers, and aligning innovations with their needs to drive forward effectively.

5. Cherish Your Team

Recognizing the impact of economic challenges on employee morale, Assaf stresses the importance of valuing and supporting your team to maintain dedication and confidence.

6. Stay Resilient

Assaf encourages founders to maintain hope and resilience, even when facing economic downturns, as perseverance can lead to impressive outcomes.

7.Foster a Collaborative Culture

Assaf’s unconventional management style includes interacting with employees on an equal footing, often wearing casual attire and engaging in informal activities, fostering a collaborative and comfortable work environment.