1776 is doubling down on cybersecurity

1776 is hiring its first director of cybersecurity ventures.
It’s a new role that points to the incubator’s plans: “Cybersecurity is going to be a huge focus for us in 2017,” said communications director Erin McPike. The incubator previously listed the role in the fall of 2015 but didn’t fill it.
(Another space 1776 is going deeper into? Blockchain.)
1776, which has previously partnered with the Department of Defense and the National Security Agency, wants to be doing “a lot more in the cybersecurity base, recruiting a lot more startups and partnering with big institutions,” she said.
McPike later wrote to us: “It’s obviously an enormous industry and one that can stand to benefit from a continuous cycle of innovation, so we’re in a position to make sure that happens — particularly given that it’s heavily influenced by government involvement.”
(Someone tell Donald Trump.)
Elsewhere in the D.C. area, the cybersecurity scene is growing.
Cybersecurity bootcamp Empower Security chose to launch in D.C. because of market growth potential. Earlier this month, DCInno reported that “cybersecurity startups around Washington have been on fire,” raising more than $100 million in the last six weeks or so.” One of those startups was Cybrary, a cybersecurity massive open online course. You can register on their website for free courses.
1776 isn’t the only incubator focused on cybersecurity. There’s also:

• Herndon, Va. accelerator Mach37.
• Sterling, Va. accelerator Kyrus Tech.
• Fulton, Md.’s incubator DataTribe.

Additionally, if you’re a veteran you can receive free IT security training and certifications online, thanks to acollaboration from D.C.’s Department of Veteran Affairs, the Department of Homeland Security and the Chamber of Commerce.
And let’s not forget that cybersecurity is one of Baltimore’s biggest tech scene strengths.