MD lacks ‘funding opportunities for really early-stage companies’

While Maryland is lauded by state politicians as a cybersecurity hub, the state falls short with respect to the amount of venture capital available for small companies, said Zuly Gonzalez, cofounder of cybersecurity startup Light Point Security

If Maryland wants a bigger, richer cybersecurity industry, it’ll need younger companies with new ideas — and that’s going to take more early-stage money.

That slightly more specific, but altogether familiar, call for more cash came from Zuly Gonzalez, cofounder of cybersecurity startup Light Point Security, speaking at Technically Baltimore’s cybersecurity-focused Meetup on Tuesday.

And while Maryland is lauded by state politicians as a cybersecurity hub, the state falls short with respect to the amount of venture capital available for small companies.

“One area we’re lacking is funding opportunities for really early-stage companies,” Gonzalez said during her five-minute “lightning talk” at Growing Maryland’s Cybersecurity Industry.

Watch the video and read the rest of the article at http://technical.ly/baltimore/2013/08/02/md-lacks-funding-opportunities-for-really-early-stage-companies-light-point-security/

Cyber standouts: Finding Maryland's next Sourcefire

It was a true technology fairy tale, the kind plucky entrepreneurs everywhere dream about.

After years of hard work and local reputation-building, Columbia cyber security firm Sourcefire Inc. got its big break — a $2.7 billion sale to software giant Cisco Systems, Inc.

But a story like Sourcefire’s may be more attainable than it seems for some cyber entrepreneurs. The company’s success is a sign of the potential for companies in Maryland’s cyber industry.

“What this is about is the ability for Maryland to highlight that we have companies that have phenomenal potential, not just because of where they ...

Continue reading http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/print-edition/2013/08/02/cyber-standouts-finding-marylands.html

Cyber standouts: Light Point Security LLC

Location: bwtech@UMBC, 5520 Research Park Drive, Baltimore

Leadership: Zuly Gonzalez, co-founder and chief operating officer; Beau Adkins, co-founder and CEO

Year founded: 2010

Total employees: 2

Total funding: $15,000

Beau Adkins and Zuly Gonzalez know a thing or two about how to protect sensitive information — both worked in national security before launching Light Point Security. Gonzalez is a former information assurance engineer and security vulnerability analyst for the federal government. Adkins used to work as an information security specialist for the defense department. The two quit their day jobs to focus on their company last year.

Light Point offers ...

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Finding Maryland's next cyber security darling

Sarah Gantz
Reporter - Baltimore Business Journal

Maryland may have sold its shares of Sourcefire Inc. years ago, but the state still stands to win big from the Columbia cyber security firm's $2.7 billion sale.

Industry analysts say software giant Cisco’s willingness to pay more than ten times Sourcefire’s revenue is a sign of the potential for cyber companies growing up in Maryland. Industry leaders consider the sale validation of their efforts to promote cyber here.

Read more at http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2013/08/01/finding-marylands-next-cyber-security.html