Black Hat MEA 2026 CyberSeed
$30,000. One pitch. Zero equity.
CyberSeed is Black Hat MEA’s flagship cybersecurity startup competition. It gives selected startups the chance to pitch on the main stage in front of investors, security leaders, buyers, and decision-makers from across the industry. It is built for cybersecurity companies that want more than visibility. They want the right room, the right audience, and a stronger route into what comes next.
CyberSeed is exclusively open to Startup Pod and Scaleup Kiosk participants.
Why CyberSeed at Black Hat MEA?
CyberSeed sits inside a much bigger cybersecurity market platform. In 2025, Black Hat MEA’s Investor and Startup Program brought together 99 global and regional investors with $14 billion in AUM, giving selected startups direct exposure to investors, buyers, and decision-makers in Riyadh. The program also helped create real momentum, from Aikido Security reaching unicorn status within a month to RASPIRE progressing into Y Combinator’s Spring 2026 batch.
What You'll Gain from CyberSeed
Pitch in front of the people who matter
Take the main stage in front of investors, security leaders, and industry decision-makers who are actively looking at what comes next in cyber.
Compete for equity-free prize money
CyberSeed gives one selected company a $30,000 cash prize with zero equity taken.
Stand out inside Black Hat MEA
Use CyberSeed as a sharper route into visibility across the wider Black Hat MEA audience, from investors and founders to CISOs, buyers, and commercial decision-makers.
Turn attention into momentum
A main stage pitch creates a stronger opening for the investor, buyer, and partner conversations that follow.
Who is CyberSeed for?
CyberSeed is built for cybersecurity startups and scaleups with strong market relevance, clear products, and a story worth putting on the main stage. We welcome companies building across areas such as:
CyberSeed Structure
Ten selected startups will pitch live on the Main Stage on 3 December, each with three minutes to pitch and three minutes for Q&A. One company will win a $30,000 equity-free cash prize.
$30K prize pool
10 startups selected
One winner
0% equity
Three-minute pitch
Three-minute Q&A
How it works:
CyberSeed is not a separate open-entry program. It is available exclusively to Startup Pod and Scaleup Kiosk participants at Black Hat MEA.
To be considered, startups must first apply to the Startup Program.
From there, selected participants may have the opportunity to pitch in CyberSeed on the main stage.
What happens after CyberSeed?
A pitch is only the start. CyberSeed is designed to create visibility that carries into investor meetings, buyer conversations, and wider market attention across Black Hat MEA.