CMU to host Cyber Startup Expo during RSAC 2026 Conference

When cybersecurity leaders gather in San Francisco for the annual RSAC Conference 2026 later this month, a different kind of event will focus on the future of cyber innovation a few blocks away from the Moscone Center.

On Monday, March 23, the Cyber Startup Expo 2026 will bring together early-stage cybersecurity companies, investors, and industry executives for a full day of startup demos, expert panels, and networking.

The invitation-only expo will take place at Convene 100 Stockton from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a reception to follow from 5 to 7 p.m.

Hosted by Carnegie Mellon University’s CyLab Security and Privacy Institute and Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship in partnership with Dreamit Ventures, Blu Ventures Investors, and DataTribe, the event will spotlight emerging companies tackling some of cybersecurity’s most urgent challenges.

"We see the Cyber Startup Expo as a key piece of Carnegie Mellon’s expanding engagement in the Bay Area, building on the momentum from our recent CMU Lab to Market event and announcement of Third Coast Foundry," said Meredith Grelli, managing director and interim executive director of the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship. "This event reinforces our commitment to connecting CMU's deep technical talent and research with the investment community in San Francisco and beyond, including accelerating the next wave of disruptive cybersecurity companies."

“Cybersecurity innovation often starts with small teams tackling very hard problems the market hasn't fully grasped yet,” said Michael Lisanti, CyLab senior director of partnerships. “The Cyber Startup Expo creates a space to connect that deep technical expertise with the venture capital and security leaders who can bring those solutions to scale.”

The expo will feature live startup demonstrations, panel conversations with industry leaders, and dedicated meeting spaces for follow-up discussions between founders, investors, and potential customers.

More than 30 startups will participate, showcasing technologies spanning AI security, software supply chain protection, cloud infrastructure security, and threat detection. For many startups, the event offers an opportunity to connect directly with customers and partners at one of the world’s largest cybersecurity gatherings.

“Cyber is all about trust,” said Andrew Hendela, co-founder of startup Karambit.AI. “Being able to meet people in person, show them a demo, and have those conversations face-to-face makes a huge difference for young companies.

"Many companies have been burned by founders who over-promise and under-deliver, so this lets us prove our technology can find safety or security risks without running the software.”

In addition to startup showcases, the Cyber Startup Expo will feature several expert panels addressing pressing issues in the cybersecurity industry.

One session will explore how early-stage startups can build effective partner ecosystems and navigate channel sales, while another brings together experienced chief information security officers to discuss how enterprise security leaders evaluate and collaborate with emerging companies.

A third panel will examine how cybersecurity defense is evolving as threats accelerate to machine speed. The discussion will explore how security teams are combining artificial intelligence and autonomous systems to detect and respond to threats faster than human analysts alone could manage.

Vyas Sekar, CyLab faculty member and co-founder of Rockfish Data, will serve as a panelist. Rockfish Data, a company working with synthetic data to help train and test AI systems, grew out of research conducted by CyLab faculty and students.

Rockfish Data CEO Girish Muckai, says that events like the Cyber Startup Expo are essential for translating technical innovation into real-world impact.

“For startups, these conversations help us understand what the most important problems are for organizations today,” said Muckai. “That awareness helps us refine our product and connect with customers who need these solutions.”

Eno Thereska, co-founder and CEO of Trent AI and a panelist in the discussion on autonomous cyber defense, said the event will provide a valuable forum for innovators to share ideas and collaborate.

“I am thrilled to join fellow industry pioneers at Cyber Startup Expo,” said Thereska. “This will be a great opportunity for our team to meet and hear from other innovators, as well as share our perspective on how security teams can prioritize autonomous solutions in a compliant and secure way that prioritizes speed.”

Thereska noted that as software development becomes increasingly automated and AI-driven, cybersecurity tools must evolve just as quickly.

“As more software is written by AI agents and systems become increasingly autonomous, the threat landscape is evolving in real time,” he said.

Many of the companies participating in the expo, including Karambit.AI, Rockfish Data, and Trent AI, trace their origins to research collaborations, industry partnerships, or startup ecosystems connected to the CyLab Venture Network.

The expo will conclude with a networking reception, giving founders, investors, and security professionals a chance to continue conversations sparked throughout the day.

For CyLab and its partners, the goal is simple: create a space where new ideas can turn into collaborations, investments, and ultimately stronger cybersecurity technologies.

“The pace of digital transformation demands an equally accelerated pace of cyber innovation,” said Lisanti. “By bringing together founders, investors, researchers, and industry leaders, we hope to accelerate breakthrough ideas and partnerships that will shape the future of the field.”

Seating is limited and by invitation only. If you're interested in attending or connecting with CyLab, please contact Michael Lisanti at mlisanti@cmu.edu for details.