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Doppel Secures Position in the Fortune Cyber 60

In a significant milestone for the cybersecurity industry, Doppel, a pioneering company specializing in AI-driven Social Engineering Defense (SED), has been recognized as one of the top 20 Early Growth Stage Companies in the 2026 Fortune Cyber 60 list. This prestigious list, curated by Lightspeed Venture Partners, highlights the most innovative venture-backed startups that have not yet undergone an IPO or acquisition.

Doppel's recognition comes at a crucial time when cyber threats, particularly phishing attacks, are rapidly escalating across various platforms. The rise of AI technologies is making it imperative for defenders to move beyond traditional security measures. Founded in 2022, Doppel combines cutting-edge technologies and methodologies to provide proactive defenses against these evolving threats. The platform employs autonomous AI systems designed to detect and disrupt potential attacks before they can cause significant damage.

Kevin Tian, the co-founder and CEO of Doppel, expressed his enthusiasm for this recognition, stating, "Being named to the Fortune Cyber 60 is a tremendous honor and a clear signal that the industry is recognizing the urgency of social engineering defense." He highlighted the reality of modern cybercrime, noting that social engineering has become the predominant method of cyber fraud, exacerbated by AI tools that allow attackers to mimic identities across communication channels such as email, SMS, and messaging apps.

Doppel is breaking new ground by shifting focus from reactive alerts—which merely notify about breaches—to proactive measures that disrupt attacks and educate users about security awareness. By engaging in social engineering red teaming and advanced simulations, Doppel is equipping businesses to combat attacks both at an infrastructural level and within their workforce.

In its journey through 2025, Doppel has made significant strides in technological advancements, having launched several innovative tools to enhance its SED platform. One of the notable upgrades is the Agentic AI-Powered Simulation Tool, which incorporates cutting-edge features like deepfake voice cloning and conversational attack simulations. These enhancements aim to replicate real-world threats in a controlled manner, allowing organizations to better prepare for actual attempts. Additionally, the Doppel Threat Graph, a unique graph-driven defense platform, provides dynamic threat prioritization and correlation to thwart attacks before they escalate.

With ambitions to expand globally, Doppel has also recently enlarged its operations in the EMEA region, drawing executive talent such as Steve Murphy, who has stepped in as SVP for EMEA. This hiring and expansion strategy is reflected in their new office opening in San Francisco, as well as in their commitment to bring on new talent, with 25 positions up for grabs. The promotion of Mike Ferrari to Chief Revenue Officer illustrates Doppel's focus on nurturing its talent pool while fostering organizational growth.

In 2025, Doppel has garnered several industry awards including the AI-Based Cybersecurity Innovation of the Year honor from CyberSecurity Breakthrough and the SINET16 Innovator Award. Collaborations with leading AI organizations, including a case study with OpenAI, have further solidified its standing within the industry.

Zane Lackey, a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, commented on Doppel's efforts stating, "Doppel is tackling the problem of generative AI being used in social engineering head-on. Their platform provides companies with actionable insights to detect and mitigate impersonation threats before they can inflict harm. This acknowledgment highlights Doppel's role as a front-runner in the social engineering defense sector."

Furthermore, Mark Keller, CTO of ARK Invest, remarked, "In an era of rapid innovation and information, Doppel is transforming digital brand protection. Their intelligence-driven approach to threat identification and neutralization across various platforms has been crucial to our success. We celebrate their inclusion in the Fortune Cyber 60 and eagerly anticipate their next achievements."

The Fortune Cyber 60 methodology involved an extensive analysis of over 500 cybersecurity startups, evaluating various metrics such as annual recurring revenue, year-on-year growth, and operational data. Nominations came from Lightspeed partners based on their expertise and active market analysis.

As Doppel continues to drive forward, organizations are invited to explore how their SED platform can help counteract social engineering threats. For more information, visit www.doppel.com or connect with them on LinkedIn and X. Opportunities for career advancement are also available on their jobs page.

Overall, this recognition by Fortune reflects not only Doppel's innovative achievements but also underscores the imperative for businesses to adapt their security measures to effectively combat the sophisticated tactics employed by cybercriminals in this AI-driven era.