In today's digital age, cybersecurity has become a paramount concern, not just for corporations and governments but also for private and family-owned businesses. Recognizing the critical importance of safeguarding digital assets, an increasing number of family offices are directing their investment focus toward the cybersecurity sector. This trend signifies a sophisticated alignment with the ever-evolving technological landscape. In utilizing the FINTRX Data Intelligence Platform, which provides intel into thousands of direct deal transactions made by 4,000+ family offices worldwide, we explore three firms that have identified cybersecurity as a promising investment frontier.

1. Celeres Investments 

Founded in 2012, Celeres Investments is a single-family office based in Kowloon, Hong Kong, with an additional office in London, UK. Serving as the investment vehicle for an undisclosed high-net-worth individual, Celeres employs a multi-disciplinary investment strategy aimed at achieving long-term capital appreciation. The firm allocates its resources across a variety of asset classes, with a primary focus on real estate, private equity, venture capital, direct investments, and debt finance. Celeres targets investments in scalable and innovative businesses, selectively investing in a few companies each year. For venture capital investments, Celeres focuses on startups and scale-up businesses across diverse sectors including cybersecurity, internet marketplaces, FinTech, SaaS, artificial intelligence, AdTech, cannabis and AgTech.

In November 2018, Celeres Investments directly invested in Acceptto, a Portland, Oregon-based cybersecurity company driving a paradigm shift in identity access management by treating authentication not as a single event, but rather as a continuum. Acceptto delivers breach-proof identity validation technology commercially available today for web, mobile, cloud, and IoT platforms. Celeres makes direct investments in UK real estate opportunities with long-term real income growth potential. Their real estate investments are focused on the areas of purpose-built student accommodation, sales and leasebacks, professional housing, distressed assets, and tenant arbitrage. With more than $250 million in assets under management, Celeres targets investment opportunities primarily throughout the United Kingdom.

2. Wipro Ventures (Venture Arm of Azim Premji Family Office)  

Founded in 2015, Wipro Ventures is a Bangalore, India-based single-family office with an additional office in Mountain View, CA, managing the assets of Mohamed Premji and his family. Premji, who amassed his wealth as the founder of IT services provider Wipro, has directed the firm to invest in both public and private equity across various sectors, regions, and asset classes, with a strong focus on venture capital opportunities. Wipro Ventures manages a $100 million family capital pool, specifically targeting early to mid-stage startups, particularly those that are tech-enabled. The group shows a strong inclination toward industries encompassing cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data analytics, enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, digital services, fintech, healthcare IT and the Internet of Things (IoT).

In July 2020, Wipro Ventures directly invested in CloudKnox Security, the only multi-cloud, hybrid-cloud permissions management platform that provides granular visibility, automated remediation, and continuous monitoring. This approach offers a non-intrusive way to manage identity privileges and protect organizations'​ critical infrastructure from malicious and accidental credential abuse. Wipro Ventures provides direct capital and is open to co-investment opportunities alongside other investment firms. Geographic regions of interest include the United States, India, and Israel. The firm is keen to fund early-to-mid-stage opportunities.

3. Portage Partners Family Office

Established in 2010, Portage Partners Family Office began as a single-family office managing the wealth of former multi-strategy hedge fund manager Michael Leffell. Based in New York City, the firm has since evolved into a multi-family office, serving the Leffell family along with a select group of high-net-worth clients. Portage Partners engages in public and private equity investments across a diverse range of sectors, regions, and asset classes. Their portfolio includes direct investments, fund of funds, hedge funds, long-only strategies, and real estate opportunities. The firm has a particular interest in U.S.-based companies within the security, technology, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence sectors, while also exploring global market opportunities on an opportunistic basis.

The firm will consider a variety of strategies when evaluating potential investment opportunities for its clientele. In January 2018, Portage Partners directly invested an undisclosed amount in artificial intelligence-cybersecurity data software company Allure Security Technology, Inc. Allure Security was founded to protect customer information from cyber criminals by visually examining millions of sites every day to detect online impersonation of your brand. Portage Partners is driven by shared intellectual capital, alignment of interests, and collectively sourced opportunities. Due to the firm's privately owned status, Portage Partners does not disclose its AUM.

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