Kaspersky Lab has launched a new initiative to foster collaboration with innovative tech-based startups. The Kaspersky Open Innovations Program will enable startups to expand their potential customer base by joining a globally recognised brand in the cybersecurity sector. Kaspersky Lab will also benefit from the collaborations by complementing its portfolio with innovative products and technologies to deliver faster and better solutions that meet its customers’ cybersecurity needs.
In order to join the program, candidates are invited to participate in a challenge put together by Kaspersky Lab and BIBA Venture Partners. This challenge is designed for those companies working on advanced projects at the edge of cybersecurity in the following areas: transportation, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), anti-fraud and blockchain.
Startups participating in the challenge will have to show how their products or technologies solve concrete cybersecurity use cases. During the selection process, experts will also assess a startup’s readiness to rapidly develop their business and their interest in collaborating with Kaspersky Lab to improve the global cybersecurity landscape.
The best projects will be chosen for technical integration with Kaspersky Lab products and become part of the company’s portfolio promoted all over the world. These startups will also receive technical and business mentoring and have access to Kaspersky Lab channel partners (including distributors and resellers), clients and prospects via the company’s sales and presales forces. They will also be able to collaborate with the R&D office and expand globally in every region where the company operates.
“We are pleased to invite groundbreaking startups to participate in our challenge. It is a tremendous opportunity for growing businesses to develop their projects and conquer the global market. As an international cybersecurity vendor, we are interested in creating advanced solutions that satisfy the needs of different industries. By integrating the best solutions with our technologies, we aim to combine and maximise values for the corporate cybersecurity strategies of customers and prospects. Kaspersky Lab scouts, validates, nurtures and enhances the most advanced and disruptive technologies to support the digital transformation of our clients,” said Vitaly Mzokov, Head of Verification at Kaspersky Lab.
“Cybersecurity is a top pain point for most corporate executives. Critical infrastructures, transportation, connected industry, and also the emerging crypto economy are all affected by cyberthreats. Kaspersky Lab knows that and is well ahead in bringing on board the most promising solutions. We are very proud to be its partner in sourcing the best startups, validating their products and building compelling solutions to global threats,” added Alberto Ratti, Managing Partner at BIBA Venture Partners.
The challenge for startups will conclude with a Demo Day on September 19, 2019 in Milan, Italy. During the event, selected entrepreneurs will present their projects, which will be reviewed by a jury of experts from Kaspersky Lab. Applications are now open for established companies and late-stage startups that already have a legal entity, product or prototype, along with several closed deals or ongoing pilots.
