DataTribe competition is looking for the ‘next big thing’ in cybersecurity

Fulton-based DataTribe is opening a competition to find a cyber startup to throw its weight behind.
The “startup studio” opened the DataTribe Cyber Funding Competition on Monday, putting out the call for cybersecurity and data science startups to apply.
DataTribe has been working with entrepreneurs working on “over-the-horizon” technology in government labs and agencies, and located in Maryland specifically to be close to the talent pool coming out of NSA, APL and others. DataTribe works with the teams to build a company and move the product toward commercial use. A couple notable graduate companies include industrial control systems security company Dragos, which raised a $10 million Series A in August, and encryption company Enveil, which raised $4 million after a year at the space.
In an announcement, DataTribe’s Bob Ackerman said the competition is an “opportunity to identify our next big thing.”
Startups have until March 23 to apply. DataTribe will announce three finalists, who will split $20K in prize money and pitch at the Fulton facility on April 25. The finalist companies will be considered for further support from DataTribe, including up to $2 million in seed funding and services.
Along with DataTribe cofounders Ackerman, Mike Janke and Steven Witt, the judges for the competition include Mike Aiello, Google’s Product Manager for Privacy and Data Protection, FireEye Global Government CTO Tony Cole and Cisco Chief Security and Trust Officer John N. Stewart and Shopify cofounder Daniel Weinand.
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