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COUNTDOWN TO CYBER VENTURE FORUM!
8:00 AM - 9:35 AM
1 hour 30 minutes
Doors Open | Continental Breakfast & Early Stage Startup Hall
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Atrium
Early Stage Startup Hall open until 5:00 PM
9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
15 minutes
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Main Theater
Speaker: Mike Denning | Partner, Blu Venture Investors
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM
30 minutes
Morning Keynote
Main Theater
Speaker: Nick Andersen | Acting Director, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM
45 minutes
Strategies in Go-to-Market: Unlocking the Channel
Main Theater
Moderator: Marcos Torres | Partner Blu Ventures, former CFO at Huntress
Panelist: Jay Colavita | President, Vertosoft
Panelist: Tuan Nguyen | VP Channel & Alliance, Huntress Labs
Panelist: Alex Whitworth | Director, Sales at Carahsoft
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
45 minutes
Building a Cyber Business in Virginia
Main Theater
Moderator: Rick Gordon | CEO, Tidal Cyber
Panelist: Derren Burrell | Founder and Managing Partner, Veteran Ventures Capital
Panelist: Luiz DaSilva | Executive Director of CCI, Commonwealth Cyber Initiative
Panelist: Adam Vincent | CEO, Bricklayer AI
Panelist: Tom Weithman | Managing Director, Virginia Venture Partners
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
1 hour
Lunch
Atrium
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
30 minutes
Tame the Chaos: Stop Scaling Your Problems
Main Theater
Speaker: Marcos Torres | Partner Blu Ventures, former CFO at Huntress
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
45 minutes
State of the Cybersecurity M&A Market
Main Theater
Moderator: Jeremy Schropp | Partner, King & Spalding
Panelist: Shawn Anderson | CTO & Managing Director, Boston Meridian Partners
Panelist: Matthew Hicks | Managing Director, Boston Meridian Partners
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
45 minutes
AI, Data Security & Monetization
Main Theater
Moderator: John Israel | Global CISO, KPMG
Panelist: Sean Cordero | Chief AI Security Officer, Cyera
Panelist: Idan Perez | CTO, Tamnoon
Panelist: Nick Timakondu | Solutions Engineer, Wiz
2:45 PM - 3:30 PM
45 minutes
Navigating the AI-Driven Shift in Cyber Value
Main Theater
Moderator: Mike Denning | Partner Blu Ventures
Panelist: Mike Newborn | CISO, Navy Federal Credit Union
Panelist: Silvio Pappalardo | CRO, Authmind
Panelist: Michael Sutton | General Partner, Runtime Ventures
Panelist: Daniel Whitenack | CEO, Prediction Guard
3:45 PM - 5:00 PM
1 hour 15 minutes
Cyber Tank Pitch Competition
Main Theater
Startup 1: Dark Sky Technology
Startup 2: Surface Security
Startup 3: Verifyd
Judge: Bikram Bakshi | Partner, Blu Ventures
Judge: Matt Bressler | General Partner Lookout Ventures
Judge: Marcos De Castro Osorio | Partner, Bright Pixel Capital
Judge: Brandon Lally | Partner, Blu Ventures
Judge: Seth Spergel | Managing Partner, Merlin Ventures
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
1 hour 30 minutes
Closing Remarks & Cocktail Reception
Main Theater and Atrium
ABOUT THE EVENT
The Blu Cyber Venture Forum is the leading conference in the East for
leveraging outcomes-based connections in cybersecurity.
CONNECT WITH US
300+
Companies
75%
Executive Presence
400+
Participants
PROGRAM INCLUDES
Personalized
Matchmaking
Startup
Expo Hall
Interactive
Booths
Cyber Tank
Pitch Competition
Individualized
Networking
Engaging
Speakers
If you’re an established cybersecurity startup with demonstrated traction, this is your chance to take the spotlight before top investors, industry leaders, and potential customers!
Thank you for submitting your applications!
The finalists will be announced soon.
🔑 Present your vision on a premier platform for cyber innovation
🤝 Connect with leading VC firms, strategic partners, and fellow entrepreneurs
🚀 Access mentorship, funding, and invaluable feedback
CYBER TANK PITCH COMPETITION
INAUGURAL EARLY-STAGE
STARTUP HALL
Prime Atrium
Presence
Secure a dedicated booth in the main Atrium networking area, located
outside the main auditorium for maximum visibility
Dual-Track
Participation
Guaranteed screening for the
Cyber Tank pitch competition - your potential ticket to the main stage
Digital
Spotlight
Featured "Stories Mode" placement
on the Brella app, putting your
brand in every attendee's feed
Full
Access
Includes two full conference
passes to attend all keynote
sessions and panels
2026 SPONSORS
