By Thomas Brewster
Publication Date: 2025-11-15 13:00:00
The U.S. is quietly investing in AI agents for cyberwarfare, spending millions this year on a secret startup that uses AI to carry out offensive cyberattacks on American enemies.
An Arlington, Virginia-based startup called Twenty, or XX, signed a contract with the U.S. Cyber Command this summer worth up to $12.6 million, according to federal contract documents. The company also received a $240,000 research contract with the Navy. The company received VC backing from In-Q-Tel, the nonprofit venture capital organization founded by the CIA, as well as Caffeinated Capital and General Catalyst. Twenty declined to comment.
Twenty’s contracts are a rare case of an AI-offensive cyber company with VC backing landing Cyber Command work; Typically, cyber contracts went to either small, bespoke companies or old guard defense contractors like Booz Allen Hamilton or L3Harris.
Although the company hasn’t gone public yet, its website says its focus is on “transforming workflows.”
