Wiz, a cloud security startup, has opted to abandon a $23 billion acquisition deal with Google, choosing instead to pursue an initial public offering (IPO). This decision was communicated by CEO Assaf Rappaport in a memo to employees, where he cited antitrust concerns and investor reservations as key factors influencing the decision.
The company aims to achieve $1 billion in annual recurring revenue as it moves towards its IPO.
Founded in 2020, Wiz has experienced rapid growth, achieving $100 million in annual recurring revenue within 18 months and reaching $350 million last year.
Its suite of cloud security products, which include prevention, active detection, and response, has attracted significant interest from large firms and would have enhanced Google’s competitive stance against Microsoft in the security software market.
Despite the potential benefits, Google Cloud, which has been under pressure to sustain growth amid the AI boom, will miss out on what could have been its largest acquisition. Google's cloud segment, which became profitable in 2023, faces stiff competition from Microsoft and Amazon.
The decision to walk away from the deal highlights the challenging regulatory environment and market conditions that have made large tech exits rare this year.
Wiz’s previous backers, including Index Ventures, Insight Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Sequoia, had hoped the deal would generate significant returns.
The startup's founders, who previously sold their security company Adallom to Microsoft for $320 million, have seen Wiz benefit from the pandemic-driven shift to cloud-based software and infrastructure.
Despite the setback, Wiz continues to focus on its growth trajectory and upcoming IPO.