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Axian Group, the pan-African investment conglomerate controlled by Malagasy businessman Hassanein Hiridjee, has joined a €3-million ($3.5-million) funding round for Nucleon Security, a Paris-based cybersecurity startup developing artificial intelligence for proactive defense.
The late seed round was led by NewFund Capital, with backing from Axian Group as well as participation from CDG Invest through its 212Founders program, LoftyInc Capital, Orange Ventures. The funding will help Nucleon expand its AI-driven platform, speed up commercial growth in Europe and Africa, and strengthen its research and development.
Building AI-powered cyber defense
Founded by cybersecurity expert Anas Chanaa, Nucleon Security offers a Zero Trust platform designed to cover the full defense cycle. Its products include endpoint detection and response software that blocks suspicious activity by default, managed detection and response tools tailored for local data oversight, Malprob AI for early malware detection, and ScorX, which helps teams prioritize alerts.
Unlike traditional systems that only flag anomalies, Nucleon’s technology uses autonomous AI to analyze, decide, act, and learn in real time. The company argues this reduces the workload on cybersecurity professionals, a critical issue as nearly 4 million roles remain unfilled worldwide, according to the World Bank.
The latest investment also reflects a growing network of European and African backers rallying behind the French startup. NewFund partner Salim Hassad said the firm supports Nucleon’s global ambition, while Chanaa described the mission as making cybersecurity “proactive and accessible.”
The timing is notable. Cybersecurity Ventures has disclosed that the cost of cybercrime will reach $10.5 trillion worldwide by 2025. Businesses are having a hard time protecting their operations from attacks that are getting more and more complex.
Hiridjee’s Axian: Expanding digital footprint in Africa
For Axian, the deal fits into Hiridjee’s wider push to build Africa’s digital infrastructure. Based in Mauritius, Axian Telecom serves more than 42.9 million mobile subscribers and 15.2 million mobile money users in about 17 African markets directly and indirectly. Revenue rose from $1.4 billion to $2.75 billion in 2024 as demand for 4G and 5G services expanded.
Hiridjee, whose group also invests in financial services and energy, has positioned Axian as a key player in Africa’s digital economy. Axian is taking on a bigger role in cybersecurity by backing Nucleon. This is an area that is becoming more and more important for governments, businesses, and consumers across the continent.
