People First, Always: Celebrating Upwind’s Series B

Today, as Upwind announced its $250M Series B, the headlines rightly focused on a unicorn valuation, record growth, and a bold vision for the future of cloud security. For us at Penny Jar, though, the moment landed in a much more personal way.

I first met Amiram in November of 2021 through a close friend and one of Stephen Curry’s former NBA teammates, Omri Casspi. From that very first conversation, it was obvious he wasn’t just building another security company; he was setting out to redefine how an entire category should work. When we invested in Upwind’s first round in September of 2022, it wasn’t because of a polished deck or a crowded market narrative. It was because of Amiram. His clarity of thought, his conviction about where the cloud was headed, and the way he spoke about customers and teams made it clear he was going to build something special.

Since then, we’ve had the privilege of watching, and in small ways, supporting the journey up close. Dinners turned into long conversations about product and culture. Warriors game turned into building pipeline and closing customers. Celebrating milestones, working through challenges, and watching those early moments turn into a company that security leaders truly trust. Along the way, Amiram has become more than a founder we back; he’s become a close friend. He has built a world‑class team and a world‑class product with urgency, intensity, and an unwavering focus on doing the hard work the right way.

Today’s round is a remarkable milestone for Upwind, and a testament to what happens when exceptional founders meet real customer problems and stay relentlessly focused on execution. We’re also thrilled that our friends at Bessemer Venture Partners are leading this round, a firm we admire deeply, and grateful to be investing alongside them. We’re incredibly proud to be part of the Upwind story from the earliest days, and even more excited for what lies ahead. Congratulations to Amiram and the entire Upwind team. We’re grateful to be on this journey with you, and excited to keep supporting you as Upwind continues to scale and delight customers around the world.

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