Network Perception Secures $13 Million in Series A Funding

Categories : EnterpriseWorks, Investments
Posted on: May 5, 2022

Network Perception, a cybersecurity startup, recently secured a $13 million Series A funding round. The company, which graduated from the Research Park’s EnterpriseWorks incubator in 2019, translated university research into a commercial product.

The funding round was led by The Westly Group with participation from Energy Impact Partners and other existing investors, including Champaign’s Serra Ventures. The Series A funding brings Network Perception’s total venture capital funds raised to $15.73 million.

“The security of critical OT assets is essential to public safety and the operation of everyday services that we all rely on – from energy delivery to manufacturing and transportation,” said Robin Berthier, Network Perception CEO and Co-Founder. “This infusion of funding will allow us to take network security to a new level, bringing greater control and visibility to administrators, and eliminating potential weaknesses before they are exposed. In today’s operational technology environment, this is not only important, but imperative.”

Network Perception has a long history in Champaign-Urbana. The company began receiving startup support services from EnterpriseWorks in 2012.  located at the EnterpriseWorks incubator from 2014-2019 and now resides in Chicago.

During its startup journey Network Perception received I-Start funding, SBIR funding, and EIR support.

Network Perception came about as a result of work conducted through the Trustworthy Cyber Infrastructure for the Power Grid project, funded from 2009-2015 by the Department of Energy with support from the Department of Homeland Security. Additional grants helped faculty co-founders David Nicol , ECE professor, and former UIUC professor William Sanders, now Dean of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon, transition the technology from academia to the marketplace.

Read the full news release here.

Access the Network Perception Graduate Page here