Sebastian Kurz Emerges as Tech Leader with AI Startup DREAM
Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is making waves in the tech world as a co-founder of DREAM, a company that leverages a specialized artificial intelligence model to defend nations against cyberattacks. Recently, DREAM announced it has secured $260 million in a new funding round, which positions the firm to expand its market reach across three continents.
During his tenure as Chancellor, Kurz operated from the historic Baroque palace at Ballhausplatz in Vienna. In contrast, his current workspace is a modern glass building that blends seamlessly into the skyline of Tel Aviv. Despite the different environments, Kurz’s relentless drive and swift success remain unchanged. At just 27, he became Austria’s Foreign Minister, and by age 31, he was the country’s youngest Chancellor. Now, at 39, he stands among the foremost founders of startups in Europe and Israel.
DREAM’s latest funding has been led by Bicycle Capital and Group 11, with notable investors including Bain Capital and Tru Arrow Partners, along with Norwegian firm Antler. The company’s valuation has reportedly reached $3 billion, marking a significant milestone for a venture that started only three and a half years ago.
Preparing for Future Cyber Warfare
Despite the impressive achievements, the startup’s founders express a cautious outlook. “When we built this company from scratch three and a half years ago, we had no idea if we would succeed. Now we are very happy to continue our work,” Kurz stated.
He emphasizes that the next wave of cyber warfare will be fought with artificial intelligence against artificial intelligence. In order to safeguard nations, military forces, security services, medical data, and critical infrastructure, Kurz and his partner Shalev Hulio merged two previously separate fields: top hacking expertise and artificial intelligence capabilities. This collaboration has led to the development of a dedicated cybersecurity AI model trained by global experts.
The resulting platform is designed to detect and mitigate state-sponsored cyberattacks before they can inflict damage on critical infrastructure or public institutions.
According to Hulio, the majority of attacks thwarted by DREAM have originated from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. As a former co-founder and leader of the NSO Group, known for its spyware Pegasus, he explained, “Russia conducts extensive phishing campaigns, while China is developing AI-assisted attack frameworks. What sets DREAM apart is our capability to enable nations to achieve independence in cybersecurity defense.”
DREAM’s Profitability and Future Plans
Kurz asserts, “Countries should not have to rely on the USA or China. We are developing solutions that governments can own, operate, and control independently. Data does not need to be sent to the cloud or shared with anyone.” He noted that the client base is expanding rapidly across Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, with pending orders valued at approximately $300 million. The firm, which employs 350 people, is reportedly profitable this year.
As the company experiences such rapid growth, the founders are contemplating a public offering, similar to Elon Musk’s recent move with SpaceX. However, Kurz emphasized that the immediate focus is on expanding their branch in Abu Dhabi, with plans to establish a research and development center in Germany, although the exact location has yet to be determined. “For us, direct flight connections to Tel Aviv are crucial,” Hulio added.
Cultural Blend as a Key to Success
The combination of Israeli and Western European mentalities and skills appears to contribute significantly to DREAM’s success. The two founders display contrasting styles; Kurz is neatly dressed in white, while Hulio prefers casual black t-shirts and sports a beard with a cheerful demeanor.
Initially, cultural differences sometimes posed challenges for the duo. Hulio remarked, “Sebastian can fit 20 meetings in a single hour. He is incredibly disciplined, making it difficult to keep up. If someone is even a minute late for a meeting, he considers it tardy. I had to adjust to that as an Israeli,” he laughed. He added that he has had the opportunity to work with many talented individuals throughout his career.
Hulio then praised Kurz, stating, “Sebastian Kurz is the best partner I have ever had. What he achieved in politics in such a short time, he is now accomplishing in the tech industry. He is a brilliant mind. If he had chosen entrepreneurship as a young man, he would be compared to Elon Musk today.” Kurz reciprocated the praise, acknowledging Hulio’s reputation as a star in the Israeli tech industry prior to founding DREAM. “Shalev is a genius. When someone tells him there is no solution to a technical problem, it only motivates him to mobilize the team to its maximum potential. He has repeatedly achieved groundbreaking technological successes that seemed impossible. In a sense, those words apply to him as well. While other leading politicians struggle to transition into business or become lobbyists for dictators, I have managed a spectacular start as an entrepreneur.”
