What could your company do with $2 million?

The DataTribe Challenge is a unique annual competition where startups have a chance at receiving up to $2 million in seed capital. The Challenge brings together the best entrepreneurs in the world looking to disrupt cybersecurity and data science. DataTribe selects three finalists that split $20,000 in prize money and one winner that could receive up to $2 million in seed capital.

Submissions Due: September 23rd, 2023
DT Challenge Pitch Event: November 2nd, 2023

About The Challenge

As we prepare for the 6th Annual DataTribe Challenge, we are looking forward to all the great companies that will submit to compete for one of the three finalist spots. The finalists will be announced October 12th, 2023, and the final competition event will take place in Maryland on November 2nd, 2023. We expect this year to continue the tradition of bringing together an amazing group of cyber startups, executives, investors and luminaries.

For full competition details, check out the links to the FAQ and Terms & Conditions at the bottom of the page.

Why We Do the DataTribe Challenge

DataTribe wants to continue to build world-class companies. We have built a unique reputation as a partner with elite teams at the cutting edge of innovation, typically leveraging experience gained at national security agencies or government R&D labs. DataTribe’s mission is to advance the state-of-the-art in cybersecurity and data science.

How To Get Involved

Companies that are interested must submit a proposal that includes a deck and relevant information. DataTribe will review submissions for technical merit, market potential, and readiness of the team.

Companies that are interested in competing must also be pre-Series A with maximum funding to date not exceeding more than $1.2M. You must have an Enterprise, Big Data or Cyber Security product, beta, MVP or concept to present.

Please visit terms and conditions for more information.

Previous Winners

3

Finalists split $20,000

5

Judges to pitch your ideas to

200+

VIP audience members watching your pitch

Judges for the 2023 Challenge:

Bob Ackerman

Founder, AllegisCyber;
Co-Founder, DataTribe

William MacMillan

Chief Product Officer, Red Cell Partners;
Fmr. SVP Cybersecurity, Salesforce;
Fmr. CISO, CIA

Jim Routh

Advisor & Brd. Member, Many Cyber Firms;
Fmr. CISO, MassMutual, Aetna & Amex

Kristen Edwards Marquardt

Head of Digital & Cyber NA, Hakluyt;
Frm. SVP & Chief Cyber Strategist, B of A

Navin Maharaj

Director of Koch Disruptive Technologies

“Winning the 2022 DataTribe Challenge was a significant step forward for us. DataTribe’s approach to co-building with us has proven to be huge. Between the resources, the expertise, and network, we have gotten so much more out of the relationship than just capital. DataTribe is way more than just an investor.”

"We launched DataTribe to tap into the deepest reservoir of cyber engineering research in the world, which is in Maryland, and to leverage that to build next generation, cutting edge cyber security companies. We saw that as an opportunity, but we also felt that it was absolutely essential to building the next generation of successful cyber companies."

“Over the last five years, the Challenge has evolved into an excellent platform for entrepreneurs to not only get exposure and feedback — but to actually fundraise. For the winner, it could take care of their entire seed round. We’re always humbled by the quality of submissions — as founders look over the horizon to chart the future of cyber. The Challenge is a lot of fun and we look forward to working with participants.”

“This is the first time in modern venture capital that two companies from the same startup foundry have been selected as World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers. Dragos and Enveil are prime examples of our thesis that the best cybersecurity and data science technologies are coming out of the U.S. Intelligence and R&D community. It is an amazing honor for these two companies to be selected by the World Economic Forum and true validation for the growing innovation coming out of DataTribe and the MD/DC/VA area."