CyberWire Daily: "2025 DataTribe Challenge: Forging the Future of Cyber"

Special Edition – October 5, 2025
Host: Dave Buettner (N2K Networks)

Overview

This special edition of CyberWire Daily spotlights the DataTribe Challenge, one of the cybersecurity industry’s premier stages for early-stage startups. Host Dave Buettner explores the origins, structure, and impact of this competition, and brings forward the stories of founders who have experienced the Challenge firsthand—detailing the value of the event for both participants and the broader cybersecurity ecosystem. Guests include Leo Scott (Chief Innovation Officer, DataTribe), Anita D’Amico (Code DX), Greg Baker (Balance Theory), and Brian Proctor (Franos).

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins and Evolution of the DataTribe Challenge

• History & Growth
  • The Challenge is now in its 8th year, evolving from a local office event to a major all-day experience in Washington, D.C. (Navy Yard).
  • "[This year] we have moved down to a much larger venue...and have expanded to have an all day event." – Leo Scott [03:10]
• Program Structure
  • Now a full program: Five finalists receive personalized coaching from DataTribe members for 2–3 weeks before the pitch competition.

2. Competition Format and Value

• Why a Competition?
  • Provides startups face-time with VCs and execs; adds excitement and valuable live-stage experience.
  • "It's very important for them to build relationships and get in front of as many venture firms as possible." – Leo Scott [04:42]
• Esteemed Judges
  • Judges include senior cyber executives and industry visionaries such as Bob Ackerman, Jason Clinton (CISO, Anthropic), Marty Roche, Harry Coker, and John Bruins [05:25].
• Day-of Event Flow
  • Morning: Networking, keynote, innovation panels ("how innovation...impacts cybersecurity").
  • Afternoon: "Tech Podcast Host Showdown", main Challenge pitch, cocktails, bourbon tasting, dinner [06:57].

3. Who Should Apply & Attend?

• Target Startups
  • Pre-seed or seed-stage companies tackling "over the horizon" problems in cyber, trust, privacy [08:22].
• Prizes & Stakes
  • $25,000 split among finalists ($5,000 each); winner gets recognition, potential investment.
  • "The winner gets bragging rights...Very likely that we will invest...but not a guarantee." – Leo Scott [09:55]
• Attendee Mix
  • Early- and late-stage startups, cyber-focused VCs, cyber execs and visionaries, as well as university researchers [11:41].

Founders' Journey Highlights

Anita D’Amico (Code DX): From Research to Acquisition

Background and Finding DataTribe

• Code DX spun out from Applied Visions' cybersecurity R&D; built on government-funded research, but needed funding to grow commercially.
• DataTribe reached out after a chance conference encounter [16:22].
• "I went on a quest to find an investor that could see the value of what we were doing and put some money into it. And that wound up being DataTribe." – Anita D’Amico [13:30]

Challenge Experience

• Most stress came from refining the pitch with DataTribe's tough feedback before the event, not the stage itself.
  • "The real DataTribe Challenge was to have what I thought was a really good pitch get taken apart...this constant iteration of the pitch." – Anita [18:36]
• The announcement: unanimous win from all judges.
  • "It was a unanimous decision, and it didn't take them too long to make that decision. ...It just seemed like this shared dream come true." – Anita [21:15]

Post-Challenge: Growth & Exit

• Prize money led to rapid company scaling, hiring, and building out the business structure to prepare for further investment and acquisition.
  • "What we didn't have...was the structure for a product company that was going to grow rapidly. And we needed help with our financials." – Anita [22:48]
• Acquisition: Navigated between Series A offers and Synopsys acquisition, with DataTribe’s mentorship pivotal for due diligence and preparation.
  • "Being part of the DataTribe foundry really helped prepare us for due diligence." – Anita [28:32]
• Reflected on the journey as a "Cinderella story" for cybersecurity researchers [30:40].

Greg Baker (Balance Theory): Building a Business with Support

Introduction & Product

• Balance Theory: "Finops" for cybersecurity, aligns security strategy with spend, optimizes budget for CISOs [32:45].

Motivation and Preparation

• Deep connections with DataTribe as Maryland-based founders from the intelligence community.
• "Pass the mom test": Learn to explain your product simply, focus on refining the pitch with feedback from coaches [35:20].
• "They give you really a set of expert coaches...it's really an invaluable experience." – Greg [35:20]

Challenge Day Reflections & Aftermath

• Stress, excitement, and camaraderie were the tone: "Less cutthroat...more tribe mentality."
• Prepared thoroughly after a rough dry run.
• Winning led to investment (from DataTribe and TEDCO) and ongoing support: "It's really like having another co-founder but with extensive reach and experience..." – Greg [39:00]

Founder Advice

• "Simplify that pitch...be bullish on the problem and solution...be open to feedback."
• The event: Firehose of information, great for founders, investors, executives, and researchers—a unique networking/mixer opportunity capped with fun sessions and bourbon [42:38].

Brian Proctor (Franos): The Most Recent Winner’s Perspective

Founding Story & Pitch Journey

• Franos: The first AI-powered OT cybersecurity company; entered the Challenge on advice from the Dragos CEO [45:14].
• Rigorous prep: Pitch iterated and practiced intensively for impact; focus on both team strength and technology [47:43].

The Big Day & Beyond

• Added showmanship to their pitch with a "Morgan Wallen walkout" to energize the room [50:22].
• "It's. It's. You are on stage, all eyes on you. And, yeah, you want to make sure you knock it out of the park." – Brian [48:42]
• Winning catalyzed fundraising, garnering term sheets from both DataTribe and other investors, speeding their raise process [52:42].

Growth & Advice

• Rapid post-win growth: expanded the team, became full-time, and focused on product-market fit [54:29].
• Advice: "100% absolutely need to be part of the DataTribe Challenge...just the exposure and the outcomes, not just for me and Franos, but...previous winners."
• The event mixes top VCs, CISOs, angels, and industry experts, capped with networking and bourbon [57:19].

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the importance of live pitching:
  "They're all out working on raising money...it's very important...to get in front of as many venture firms as possible."
  — Leo Scott [04:42]

• On pitch iteration:
  "The real Data Tribe Challenge was to have what I thought was a really good pitch get taken apart...this constant iteration of the pitch."
  — Anita D’Amico [18:36]

• On startup growth post-challenge:
  "They really do take an invested approach in helping round out the rough edges of the team."
  — Greg Baker [39:00]

• On advice to founders:
  "Be bullish on the problem, be bullish on the solution…confidence above all is probably the best thing to try to lead with."
  — Greg Baker [40:45]

• On the atmosphere:
  "Less of a cutthroat mentality between companies. It's more kind of that tribe mentality of everybody's there to help each other do better..."
  — Greg Baker [37:14]

• On the Challenge’s arc:
  "This is the story that to me, almost every cybersecurity researcher wishes that they could live the journey..."
  — Anita D’Amico [30:40]

Key Timestamps

• 03:10 – Leo Scott on the event’s expansion and format changes
• 09:12 – Examples of past winners and their successes
• 13:30–31:55 – Anita D’Amico's journey: R&D, finding DataTribe, the Challenge experience, and acquisition
• 32:45–44:45 – Greg Baker’s story: Balance Theory’s path, pitch preparation, advice for founders
• 45:14–58:51 – Brian Proctor’s account: Franos’ application, presentation, win, and rapid growth post-event

Conclusion

The DataTribe Challenge stands as a launchpad for cutting-edge cybersecurity startups, blending rigorous competition with community, mentorship, and unparalleled exposure to investors and industry leaders. Success stories like Code DX, Balance Theory, and Franos illustrate the transformative power of participation—whether founders win, raise, or simply connect. As innovation in cyber surges ahead, the DataTribe Challenge continues to be a driving force for the industry’s future.