RSAC Conference Opens Annual Innovation Sandbox and Launch Pad Contest Submissions
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RSA Conference LLC ("RSAC"), the company behind the world's largest and most influential cybersecurity conference, today announced that submissions for the annual RSAC™ Innovation Sandbox and RSAC™ Launch Pad contests have opened and will run through Friday, November 14.
Since 2005, the most promising young companies in cybersecurity have taken the RSAC Innovation Sandbox (ISB) contest stage to compete for the title of "Most Innovative Startup." The Top 10 Finalists will present a three-minute pitch to a renowned panel of expert judges that includes David Chen, co-Head of Global Technology Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley; Larry Feinsmith, Head of Global Technology Strategy, Innovation & Partnerships at JPMorgan Chase; Niloofar Razi, Operating Partner at Capitol Meridian Partners; Paul Kocher, Independent Researcher; and Nasrin Rezai, SVP & CISO at Verizon.
"For the last two decades, the Innovation Sandbox competition has given the world a window into the startups that are poised to make some of the biggest future impacts on cybersecurity," said RSAC Executive Chairman and RSAC™ Conference Program Committee Chair Dr. Hugh Thompson, who will return to host the contest in 2026. "Submitting companies get the rare opportunity to have their solution reviewed and adjudicated by a panel of industry leaders with a platform to showcase themselves to the cybersecurity community. Even teams that don't become finalists benefit by honing their pitch, clarifying their value proposition, and emerging stronger competitors through the process."
"The RSAC ISB Contest continues to offer the industry a preview into what some of the brightest and most talented minds in cyber have in store for the future," said David Chen, co-Head of Global Technology Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley and one of the RSAC ISB judges for 2026. "I am thrilled to return in 2026 as an ISB judge, alongside this panel of savvy industry veterans. We welcome the innovative submissions awaiting us for next year's contest."
Top 10 Finalists have collectively raised over $17.8 billion* in investments and been involved in over 100 merger and acquisition transactions over the past 20 years. Continuing this momentum, F5 recently announced its intent to acquire CalypsoAI—an ISB Top 10 Finalist in 2025—just five months after being on stage.
"The RSAC Innovation Sandbox is the premier stage in cybersecurity that identifies and accelerates the Top 10 most promising cybersecurity innovations," said Navin Chaddha, Managing Partner at Mayfield. "The competition has become the premier proving ground where founder-friendly capital meets breakthrough ideas, delivering unparalleled industry exposure that positions early-stage companies for breakthrough growth and receiving a $5M SAFE."
More than 200 companies have been finalists in the contest over its 20-year history; previous finalists have included Imperva, SentinelOne, Axonius, Wiz, Pangea, Talon, Elastica, Phantom, and BigID. Many of these companies went on to elevate their profile following their time on the Innovation Sandbox stage—whether through public offerings, major acquisitions, or industry-leading independent growth—showcasing the contest's role as a catalyst for success in cybersecurity innovation.
"Winning the 20th annual RSAC Innovation Sandbox in 2025 was a true inflection point that put ProjectDiscovery on a new trajectory," said Andy Cao, President of ProjectDiscovery. "Recognition at RSAC is second to none in the security industry. Paired with a $5M investment, the win helped us recruit exceptional talent, meet surging enterprise demand, and accelerate our growth."
Top 10 Finalists have the opportunity to reach more than 44,000 conference attendees, over 400 members of the media, and a significant portion of the cyber investment community—making Innovation Sandbox a central meeting place for early-stage innovators and influential venture investors in cybersecurity.
"Being selected as a Top 10 Finalist at RSAC Innovation Sandbox 2025 was transformative for Aurascape," said Moinul Khan, CEO of Aurascape. "The recognition and visibility catapulted our team into new conversations with customers, partners, and investors, accelerating our growth and validating our mission to secure the future of AI."
Qualifying startups interested in participating in the RSAC Innovation Sandbox contest are invited to submit entries online with a deadline of 5 p.m. PT on Friday, November 14, 2025. The Top 10 Finalists, each awarded a $5M investment to aid their drive of cybersecurity innovation, will be announced in mid-February. Terms and conditions can be found here. The Top 10 Finalists will present a three-minute pitch on Monday, March 23 and participate in a question-and-answer round as they battle on stage for the title of "Most Innovative Startup 2026."
"The RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest is where the industry gets its first glimpse of the future—through the ideas and ingenuity of the next generation of cyber innovators," said Niloofar Razi, a Professor at Vanderbilt National Security Institute and one of the RSAC ISB judges for 2026. "2026 will mark my ninth year as a judge, and I'm honored to join this extraordinary panel of industry veterans once again. Each year, the creativity and boldness of the submissions remind us why this contest has become the launchpad for so many transformative companies. I can't wait to see what groundbreaking ideas emerge this year."
RSAC Conference will also feature RSAC Launch Pad which highlights more nascent startups. Similar to a 'Shark Tank' ™ competition, Launch Pad asks innovators to pitch bold ideas to a panel of top-tier venture capitalists. After a five-minute pitch, the VCs will provide strategy, advice, and a platform to increase awareness within the RSAC Community of these burgeoning startups. Of the 15 past finalists, two have advanced to the ISB stage, two have been acquired and they have collectively totaled more than $255 million* in funding rounds.
Judges for this year's Launch Pad contest include Sarah Guo, Founder & Partner at Conviction Partners, LLC; Barmak Meftah, General Partner at Ballistic Ventures; and Enrique Salem, Partner at Bain Capital Ventures. Details and criteria can be found here. Submissions also run through November 14, 2025, with Finalists presenting at RSAC 2026 Conference on Tuesday, March 24.
"The RSAC Launch Pad contest allows for real-time dialogue on where these early-stage startups are heading not only for us as judges, but for the cyber community at large," said Sarah Guo, Founder & Partner at Conviction Partners, LLC. "Very early-stage startups are critical to cyber in a unique way, given the innovation pace and acquisitive nature of the industry. It has been exciting to see past finalists from the content progress."
RSAC 2026 Conference will also include a variety of innovation programs, including the RSAC Early Stage Expo, comprised of 78 promising, privately-held startups under five-years old with less than $5 million in revenue.
To stay up to date on the latest information about RSAC 2026 Conference, taking place in San Francisco from March 23 - 26, please visit https://www.rsaconference.com/usa.
* Numbers according to Crunchbase as of September 9, 2025
About RSAC
As the cybersecurity industry's convening authority, RSAC brings together diverse minds to exchange perspectives, knowledge, and ideas. RSAC provides the world's leading platform for uniting and advancing the cybersecurity community to create a safer society. RSAC is at the cutting edge of cybersecurity innovation and education. The company's flagship event, RSAC™ Conference, is the largest and most influential global gathering in cybersecurity. RSAC gives cybersecurity professionals a platform to connect and grow. To learn more, visit www.OneRSAC.com.
About RSAC Conference
RSAC Conference is the largest and most influential Conference in the cybersecurity industry. Today, under the expanded RSAC brand, the Conference is central to a larger mission that unites the cybersecurity community to create a safer society. To learn more, visit www.rsaconference.com/usa.
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