In this episode of The CyberVault, I’m joined by Rob Ackerman and Leo Scott, Managing Directors at DataTribe - a DC-based early-stage venture firm with a unique foundry model focused on cybersecurity and AI startups.

AI has reshaped the cyber landscape - not just for defenders and attackers, but for founders and investors too.

In this conversation, we unpack how AI is changing what gets funded, how risk models are evolving, and what the next wave of security startups needs to get right.

We explore:

🤖 How AI is changing the types of cyber startups getting attention

💰 What separates companies getting funded from those struggling to break through

⚠️ What recent AI-driven incidents reveal about how fast risk is shifting

🧠 The real security gaps emerging with agentic technologies

🔍 How investors tell real AI innovation from buzzwords

🚀 Advice for founders building security at speed and scale

🔮 The trends likely to define the next generation of cybersecurity startups

If you’re a founder, investor, or operator trying to understand where cyber innovation is headed next, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at what actually matters.