Key Takeaways
- • CyberBay announced a $100,000 non-dilutive pitch competition for pre-seed and seed-stage cybersecurity founders, to be held at the CyberBay Summit 2027 in Tampa, Fla., scheduled for March 22–24.
- • The winning pre-seed company receives $30,000 and the winning seed-stage company receives $70,000, with the awards provided by Bellini Capital.
- • Florida Funders, a Tampa-based venture firm, is partnering on both tracks and may invite selected companies into a review process for potential equity investment, separate from the competition awards.
- • Applicants must be based in Florida or the broader Southeast United States and must submit through CyberBay's official registration site by Dec. 15, 2026.
Summary
CyberBay, a cybersecurity and AI ecosystem powered by the University of South Florida, Cyber Florida, Bellini Capital and the USF Bellini College of AI, Cybersecurity, and Computing, has launched a $100,000 Innovation Showcase pitch competition aimed at early-stage cybersecurity companies in the Southeast, according to a Business Wire release. The competition offers non-dilutive funding and will be a centerpiece of the CyberBay Summit 2027, scheduled for March 22–24 in Tampa, where founders will present to regional investors and technology leaders.
The competition has two tracks. The pre-seed track is open to early-stage founders who can define the cybersecurity problem they address and present an evidence-based case for future product-market fit, with a $30,000 award. The seed track is for companies with a working product or prototype, early commercial validation and a need for capital to expand operations or begin go-to-market efforts, with a $70,000 award. Judges will evaluate the founding team's experience and vision, the strength of the product-market fit case, evidence of market demand and the technology's potential to deliver a meaningful cybersecurity advance. Seed applicants must provide early market momentum and data-supported annual recurring revenue projections.
Florida Funders, a Tampa-based venture capital firm and accredited investor network investing in early-stage B2B technology companies from pre-seed through Series B, is partnering on both tracks. According to the release, its investment team will help evaluate selected companies and may invite promising ventures into a review process for potential equity investment, subject to the firm's standard diligence and separate from the $100,000 in competition awards. CyberBay Advisory Board co-chair Ernie Ferraresso and Florida Funders Managing Partner Saxon Baum were quoted in support of the initiative. Applications are due by Dec. 15, 2026, through CyberBay's official registration site; the release notes that rules and Summit details are to be provided via a link not included in the available text.
The competition has two tracks. The pre-seed track is open to early-stage founders who can define the cybersecurity problem they address and present an evidence-based case for future product-market fit, with a $30,000 award. The seed track is for companies with a working product or prototype, early commercial validation and a need for capital to expand operations or begin go-to-market efforts, with a $70,000 award. Judges will evaluate the founding team's experience and vision, the strength of the product-market fit case, evidence of market demand and the technology's potential to deliver a meaningful cybersecurity advance. Seed applicants must provide early market momentum and data-supported annual recurring revenue projections.
Florida Funders, a Tampa-based venture capital firm and accredited investor network investing in early-stage B2B technology companies from pre-seed through Series B, is partnering on both tracks. According to the release, its investment team will help evaluate selected companies and may invite promising ventures into a review process for potential equity investment, subject to the firm's standard diligence and separate from the $100,000 in competition awards. CyberBay Advisory Board co-chair Ernie Ferraresso and Florida Funders Managing Partner Saxon Baum were quoted in support of the initiative. Applications are due by Dec. 15, 2026, through CyberBay's official registration site; the release notes that rules and Summit details are to be provided via a link not included in the available text.
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