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Ataata is a cybersecurity technology company based in Bethesda, Maryland, that develops a security awareness training and risk management platform designed to reduce human error in corporate breaches. The enterprise SaaS platform utilizes interactive, gamified video content to educate employees on security best practices while providing information technology teams with quantitative risk scoring and behavioral analysis. Prior to its acquisition, the company scaled its operations to serve more than 80 enterprise customers across major industry verticals. The business secured a $3 million Series A funding round in December 2017, backed by venture capital investors including ARRA Capital, SaaS Ventures, Next Frontier Capital, and TEDCO. In July 2018, the platform was acquired by enterprise cloud security provider Mimecast and subsequently integrated into its broader cyber resilience product suite. Ataata was originally founded in 2016 by chief executive officer Michael Madon.
Ataata has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round.
Ataata has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Ataata has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Series A in December 2017.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2017 | $3M Series A | Next Frontier Capital | 2M, Arra Capital, SaaS Ventures, TEDCO | Announced |
Ataata has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Ataata's investors include Next Frontier Capital, 2M, ARRA Capital, SaaS Ventures, TEDCO.
Ataata was a cybersecurity startup based in Arlington, Virginia (with references to Bethesda, Md.), that developed an interactive, gamified, and data-driven security awareness training platform to reduce human error in the workplace.[1][2][3][4] The platform served organizations by providing engaging video content, real-world attack simulations, risk scoring based on employee sentiment and behavior, and personalized training recommendations, enabling security teams to measure training effectiveness and strengthen cyber resilience.[2][3][4][5] It addressed the critical problem of human-related breaches—95% of which involve employee error—through humor-driven education that shifted security from mere compliance to cultural change, achieving early traction with $3 million in Series A funding before its acquisition by Mimecast in 2020.[2][3]
Founded in 2016, Ataata emerged from the insight that traditional cybersecurity training failed to engage employees, leading founders to prioritize video-based, humorous content that fostered buy-in over rote compliance.[1][3] The Bethesda/Arlington-based team built early momentum, as noted in reports from 2019, and secured $3 million in Series A funding in December of that year, validating their approach to mitigating internal risks via behavior-changing awareness programs.[3] A pivotal moment came with Mimecast's acquisition announcement, where Ataata's CEO highlighted excitement for integrating robust content, risk scoring, and simulations into a broader resilience strategy, marking the end of its independent journey.[2][3]
Ataata rode the surging demand for human-centric cybersecurity amid rising breaches, where 91% of attacks originate via email and 95% involve human error, aligning with market growth projections for security awareness training exceeding $1.1 billion by 2020.[2][3] Its timing capitalized on organizations' resource constraints for effective training, introducing gamification and analytics when platforms were shifting toward proactive, behavior-based defenses rather than reactive tools.[2][4] By influencing Mimecast's expansion into holistic platforms, Ataata amplified ecosystem-wide resilience, enabling cross-sells and bundled offerings that pressured competitors to enhance employee-focused features in cyber defense stacks.[2][3]
Post-acquisition, Ataata's technology fuels Mimecast's (now NASDAQ: MIME) cyber resilience suite, with immediate value in risk metrics and simulations likely evolving into tighter integrations for AI-enhanced personalization amid escalating threats.[2][3] Trends like zero-trust models and generative AI-driven phishing will shape its legacy, pushing demand for adaptive, employee-level training. As Mimecast targets broader audiences, Ataata's influence could expand globally, redefining awareness as a core pillar of enterprise security—proving that engaging humans remains the ultimate differentiator in an error-prone digital world.[2][3]
