crowdstrike, aws & nvidia launch cybersecurity accelerator

CrowdStrike has announced the launch of its second annual Cybersecurity Startup Accelerator in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS). This year, NVIDIA is joining as a supporter, aiming to drive the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud security startups.

The programme focuses on identifying cybersecurity's next market-defining disruptors across the United States and EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). Participants will receive mentorship, technical expertise, funding, and go-to-market opportunities. Applications for the Cybersecurity Startup Accelerator are open from 16 September 2024 to 10 January 2025. The selected startups will benefit from a free eight-week programme developed by AWS, CrowdStrike, and NVIDIA.

CrowdStrike Chief Business Officer Daniel Bernard elaborated on the initiative, saying: "CrowdStrike and AWS created the Cybersecurity Startup Accelerator as a formative, value creation experience for innovative startups to learn, create and grow. Since participating in the Accelerator, last year's cohort participants raised over USD $150 million from leading global VCs."

Last year's success seems to have set a high bar for future participants. The previous cohort exceeded expectations in terms of funding raised, garnering substantial interest from leading global venture capitalists.

This year's programme is expanding its reach by offering more robust support structures. Startups will have access to top-tier global cybersecurity investors and enablement sessions, in addition to receiving up to USD $25,000 in AWS Activate credits. Participants will also be given opportunities to present their innovations during an in-person Demo Day at the AWS Startup Loft in San Francisco, which will take place alongside the RSA Conference in April 2025. Winning presentations may be eligible to receive funding from the CrowdStrike Falcon Fund.

Bartley Richardson, Director of Cybersecurity Engineering at NVIDIA, highlighted the importance of technological support for these startups: "For startups seeking to tackle the most pressing security challenges, the Cybersecurity Startup Accelerator provides the AI technologies, accelerated computing resources and technical expertise they need."

The inclusion of NVIDIA signifies a significant expansion of the programme. Through NVIDIA's Inception programme, startups will receive additional benefits such as credits for the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute, preferred pricing on NVIDIA hardware and software, and essential technological assistance.

AWS Accelerators offer innovators from various backgrounds access to resources, technologies, and expertise to help them develop comprehensive solutions. The aim is to enable these innovators to create tomorrow's solutions today, all provided at zero cost and without requiring any equity from the participating startups.

The CrowdStrike Falcon Fund, the largest corporate venture arm in the cybersecurity industry, is designed to foster an ecosystem of next-generation security leaders. It offers a combination of investment and deep technical integrations with the CrowdStrike Falcon platform, giving customers access to advanced third-party capabilities.

Applications are currently open, and interested startups are encouraged to review the programme's terms and conditions. This expanded initiative aims to bolster the future of cybersecurity by supporting and nurturing innovative startups through critical stages of their development, from prototyping to deployment.