Pinpoint Search Group

It’s always great to see our research cited by Bloomberg—the go-to source for finance and business news. These moments reinforce why we put in the work to analyze the cybersecurity industry. Why do we invest so much time in research and data? Because to be among the top cybersecurity recruitment firms, market intelligence matters. Tracking industry trends, mapping talent in funded organizations, and keeping our data sharp aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re critical to delivering real value. Insight drives results. That’s why we do the work. And that’s why our customers keep coming back.

Hiring and Recruiting are NOT the same. They reflect two very different mindsets. “Hiring” can be defined as *giving* work or a job to someone in exchange for wages or a salary. Key word in this definition is *give*. In this context, an employer will give or award an open slot to one of several contenders vying for a job. “Recruiting” is defined as the act of *securing the services of*… The act of securing something of value – in this instance the services of a skilled and experienced professional – requires a coordinated and concerted effort. Having a plan to *attract* talent is key. Often this does not come in the form of posting jobs and screening applicants. 

Cybersecurity vendors raised $409 MILLION over 29 rounds in January. Some comparative data below. ◾ The $409 Million raised in January 2025 represents a 33% decrease in funding raised when compared to January 2024. ◾ 29 funding rounds were tracked in January ’25 compared to 17 in January, ’24. ◾ Early-stage funding (Seed, Series-A) represents 66% of all January 2025 funding rounds recorded.

Very happy to see funding announced today from my friends at Hypori and Eclypsium, Inc. Cybersecurity vendors are off to a very slow start raising capital in 2025 and its great to see two companies with solid offerings gaining traction.

Have you ever been so inspired by something that you made a life altering decision? I read a news article in September 2023 that discussed the rapid and massive growth of the space industry. I could not stop thinking about it! For a year I pondered, thought, researched, and planned the expansion of my business in an area that never would have occurred to me prior to the moment in time where I read THAT article. And here we are. It's January 2025 and we are in full execution mode. While success isn't guaranteed, failure is not an option.

Well, we (Pinpoint Search Group), have taken a leap and expanded our recruitment practice to include the Space Economy! Common reaction when I’ve given people a heads up has been: Wait, what? Why Space?! Here’s some rationale: ◾ Industry growth is projected to exceed $1 TRILLION by 2040 (not that long from now!) ◾~50% of satellites in orbit were launched in the past three years. ◾Great power competition is back creating incentive for the US government to invest in private space initiatives. ◾VC investment and government contracts awarded to innovators have skyrocketed 😉 Of course, like with any new push, the excitement is accompanied by apprehension, nerves, and pressure. And I’ve learned that these are all signs that lead to success. Let’s go!

Is your company hiring with retention in mind? The tech and cybersecurity sectors are in a unique moment. Employers are now finding themselves with a rare advantage in hiring where they hold more leverage over candidates in both selection and negotiation. In my 14 years of technology recruitment, this moment has been an exception, not the norm. For most of that time, it’s been a candidate-driven market. One result of this inversion of leverage is a squeeze on compensation being offered, which may seem validated because people are accepting the offers. But here’s the risk to your business: When the market inevitably rebalances, those professionals who felt compelled to accept what they see as below-market compensation are likely to start looking elsewhere. The question executives should be asking now: Is the short-term gain of reduced compensation worth the long-term cost of increased flight risk? As always, I welcome insights from my network!

Cybersecurity vendors raised $9.5 BILLION over 304 rounds in 2024. Some comparative data below and analysis in the article. Let me know what you think! ◾ The $9.5 Billion raised in FY 2024 represents a 9% increase in funding raised when compared to 2023 ($8.7B). ◾ Funding volume decreased by 12% with 304 funding rounds tracked in FY 2024 compared to 346 in 2023. ◾ Early-stage funding (Seed, Series-A) dominated in 2024 representing 59% of total funding volume. ◾ Late stage rounds (Growth & Series C,D,E) represented 54% of all dollars raised while only accounting for 16% of funding volume.