RSAC Conference Set to Open Annual Innovation Sandbox and Launch Pad Contest Submissions on October 14

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23, 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 will open on Tuesday, October 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."

"For the last two decades, the Innovation Sandbox competition has given the world a sneak peek at companies that are poised to make some of the biggest 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. "The competition gives all entrants unique exposure to the cybersecurity ecosystem—even teams that don't become finalists benefit, as the process helps them hone their pitch, clarify their value proposition, and emerge stronger competitors. I can't wait to see who our Top 10 Finalists will be in 2026."

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 starting Tuesday, October 14 with a deadline of 8 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." 

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 panel of top-tier venture capitalists. After a five-minute pitch, the VCs will provide strategy, advice, and a platform to increase awareness with the RSAC Community of these burgeoning startups. Details and criteria can be found here. Submissions also run October 14 to November 14, 2025, with Finalists presenting at RSAC 2026 Conference on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

RSAC 2026 Conference will also include a variety of innovation programs, including the RSAC Early Stage & Next 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. 

SOURCE RSAC