Brighton Park Capital Invests $112 Million in PortSwigger to Propel Growth

Founded in 2008 by Dafydd Stuttard (known as Daf), a distinguished figure in application security, former ethical hacker, and author of the "Web Application Hacker’s Handbook," PortSwigger has become synonymous with top-tier application security solutions. The company's flagship product, Burp Suite Professional, is a premium toolkit for web application penetration testing. Additionally, their newer product, Burp Suite Enterprise, offers dynamic application security testing for automated security checks of applications and APIs. Today, PortSwigger boasts nearly 20,000 customers, including major players like Microsoft, Amazon, FedEx, and Salesforce. Beyond commercial offerings, the company is deeply committed to the cybersecurity ecosystem, providing free versions of its tools, extensive learning resources, and research materials. PortSwigger's free tools and "Web Security Academy" have reached millions globally.

Stuttard, PortSwigger's founder and CEO, expressed excitement about this new phase, highlighting the strategic importance of the partnership with Brighton Park. He stated, "We are entering an exciting new chapter at PortSwigger, and our partnership with Brighton Park is a pivotal part of this journey." He emphasized that the investment will enable PortSwigger to enhance its offerings to meet the sophisticated needs of large enterprises while maintaining agility and precision for individual security professionals. Furthermore, the investment will deepen the company's commitment to the community through increased research and free-to-use tooling, fostering stronger community support and contributions to advance the application security ecosystem.

In selecting a partner, Stuttard noted the importance of finding one with a deep understanding of the domain and market, aligned with PortSwigger's vision for innovation and growth. Brighton Park fit this criteria perfectly, bringing extensive market knowledge, proven expertise in go-to-market strategies, and a track record of scaling businesses both in the U.S. and globally. Importantly, Brighton Park shares PortSwigger's ethos and ambition to contribute to the broader cybersecurity community, a core element of the company's culture and mission. With Brighton Park's support, PortSwigger is poised to expand its reach and impact, delivering unparalleled solutions to today’s and tomorrow’s cybersecurity challenges.

Tim Drager, Partner at Brighton Park Capital, praised PortSwigger's leadership and vision. "Under Daf’s leadership, PortSwigger has fostered a high-performance yet humble and supportive culture that is rare to find. The company's unwavering commitment to innovation and its ability to meet the evolving needs of the cybersecurity community have built a loyal and growing customer base," he said. Drager expressed excitement about supporting Daf and his exceptional team as they continue to set new standards in web security and innovation.

Brighton Park Capital is a Greenwich, Conn.-based investment firm focused on entrepreneur-led, growth-stage companies in the software, healthcare, and tech-enabled services sectors. The firm partners with innovative companies providing highly advanced solutions, working closely with management teams to tailor value-add capabilities to meet each company's unique needs. For more information about Brighton Park Capital, visit www.bpc.com.

PortSwigger, a renowned leader in the cybersecurity industry, specializes in developing advanced web application and API security tools. Founded in 2008 by Dafydd Stuttard, a former ethical hacker and author of the foremost textbook on web application penetration testing, the company began as a set of tools Daf created to automate parts of his pentesting job. Over the years, it has evolved into a globally respected name known for its innovative products, dedication to quality, and strong focus on empowering the cybersecurity community.