Gili Raanan (born 1969) is an Israeli-American venture capitalist, entrepreneur, inventor, and cybersecurity expert renowned for his contributions to the cybersecurity and technology sectors. He began his career by founding Sanctum in 1997, where he developed pioneering cybersecurity products including the Web application firewall AppShield and the penetration testing software AppScan. Following the success of Sanctum, Raanan founded NLayers, a company focused on application delivery solutions, which was acquired by EMC Corporation in 2009. His entrepreneurial ventures established him as a key figure in Israel's burgeoning tech ecosystem, often referred to as 'Startup Nation.' Raanan transitioned into venture capital, serving as a General Partner at Sequoia Capital and later as a managing partner at Sequoia Capital Israel, specializing in early-stage investments in Israeli tech startups, with a portfolio including cybersecurity and enterprise software companies. He later founded Cyberstarts, an early-stage venture fund specializing in cybersecurity investments. He is currently the Managing Partner at Genesis Partners, a prominent venture capital firm focused on Israeli technology companies, and also serves as Managing Partner at YL Ventures, a New York-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage Israeli cybersecurity and deep tech companies. He is also the Managing Partner at Team8, an Israeli venture fund that seeds cybersecurity companies. Raanan has extensive experience in cybersecurity investments and previously worked at Check Point and other tech firms. He is also a co-founder of Sygnia, a threat intelligence firm, and a former Unit 8200 officer with a background in IDF intelligence. He holds board positions at several high-profile companies, including Wiz (a cloud security unicorn), Moovit (acquired by Intel in 2020), Adallom (acquired by Microsoft in 2015), Onavo (acquired by Facebook), Snaptu (acquired by Facebook), and Cato Networks (board member since the 2021 funding round). He has been professionally associated with Marius Nacht as a partner in investment activities. Through these roles, Raanan has built extensive networks in the global tech and investment communities, particularly bridging Israeli innovation with international markets. As an Israeli Jewish entrepreneur, Raanan's career exemplifies the intersection of technology innovation and venture financing in Israel. He has been instrumental in fostering growth in cybersecurity, mentoring founders, facilitating acquisitions by major U.S. corporations, and contributing to Israel's 'Startup Nation' through strategic guidance and capital allocation. His work bridges innovation in cybersecurity and software with global markets, fostering networks of influence within international venture capital.