Brooke Motta is the Co-Founder and CEO of RAD Security, a cutting-edge cybersecurity company that specializes in securing cloud-native infrastructure and AI workloads. We talked to Brooke about the future of cybersecurity, the challenges of raising Series A funding, and her advice for entrepreneurs navigating the startup landscape.

The cybersecurity industry is evolving rapidly, especially with AI and cloud-native technologies. What are some of the biggest trends shaping security today?

We see two unstoppable forces: AI-powered security tools and the shift to cloud-native environments. These changes fundamentally reshape how organizations detect threats, secure applications, and protect sensitive data.

AI now acts as a key player in security operations, taking over tedious vulnerability management tasks and making threat detection more efficient. Since attackers already use AI to orchestrate sophisticated attacks, defenders need to use AI-driven solutions to stay ahead. Cloud Detection and Response (CDR) is more important than ever. Perimeter-based security alone doesn’t cut it. To protect cloud environments effectively, organizations need real-time monitoring and insights.

On top of that, identity management continues to evolve. Biometric authentication and Zero Trust frameworks are replacing passwords, continuously assessing user behavior for anomalies. It’s an exciting but challenging time, and staying ahead of these trends takes sharp strategy and constant adaptation.

RAD Security just closed a $14 million Series A round. What lessons did you learn from the fundraising process, especially as a female founder?

Raising a Series A round is tough. Only a fraction of startups that secure seed funding ever make it to this stage. For female founders, the numbers look even more daunting. One of my biggest takeaways is that traction speaks louder than anything else. Investors want proof that people want what you’re selling. At RAD Security, we focused on acquiring customers and driving revenue before anything else. We centered growth in every decision — when we thought about features, partnerships, or hiring. You have to shape the conversation to reflect where you’re going, not just where you are. Also, having the right team makes all the difference. You need this not only to execute your vision but also to show investors you have the talent to scale successfully.

What other advice would you give to founders who are trying to raise funding or scale their startups?

Be intentional about how you present your journey and address potential investor concerns upfront. And find your support system. Whether it’s mentors, peers, or other founders, having a strong network will help you navigate challenges and stay resilient. Don’t forget to stop and celebrate your wins!

What’s next for RAD Security?

With our Series A funding, we’re doubling down on AI-driven security solutions. AI adoption comes with significant security risks, especially when organizations deploy “shadow AI” without proper oversight. Our platform delivers real-time, behavior-driven defense for AI workloads, helping enterprises use AI safely and securely.

We’ve also taken a new approach to understanding and interpreting the massive amounts of data that security teams use to understand their risks. Instead of a rules-based, deterministic approach (which simply doesn’t scale and leaves a lot of room for humans to miss big issues), we’ve used advanced AI capabilities like RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) to sort through that information and get smarter over time as our users give feedback

We’re also expanding our Cloud Detection and Response capabilities, integrating runtime security, and scaling our go-to-market strategy across key industries like government, fintech, insurance, and e-commerce. Our mission is to take a smarter approach to security problems and make security make sense.

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