RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest History 

The RSAC™ Innovation Sandbox (ISB) contest has provided a platform to amplify companies that are taking novel approaches to the cybersecurity industry's most challenging problems. Industry experts—CISOs, bankers, national security experts, and entrepreneurs—sit on the judging panel, helping to identify which company will have the greatest impact on the industry over the next 12 months. Famed companies from Imperva to SentinelOne made their industry debut on this stage. In fact, there have been over 100 acquisitions and $50B in investment across this elite group of companies.

Expert Advice

How to Craft a Winning Submission

In this informative video, RSAC ISB judge Paul Kocher offers expert advice
on how to craft a standout application for the prestigious RSAC ISB contest.
Learn more about what the judges are looking for as they review
each company's submission.

Contest Submission Tips 

Considering submitting for RSAC ISB?The application covers multiple facets of your business including company origins, management team, go to market strategy, and differentiating factors.

Follow these tips from our esteemed judges:

  • Explain why you started your company and how you came to identify an opportunity, and the novel approach you took to solve it.
  • Emphasize the strengths of your management team and their proven achievements.
  • Cover the ways that your team has the perseverance and problem-solving skills needed to navigate the challenges of launching and growing a company.
  • Demonstrate your business plan is executable. What is your go-to-market strategy? Have you identified the resources necessary to execute it? If not, what are you missing and how can you overcome the obstacles that might inhibit your success?
  • Don't leave a question blank. All submissions are kept confidential, so please answer the questionnaire in its entirety. With the number of submissions generated each year, we conduct an initial round of evaluations based on the completion of a submission.
  • Don't wait until the last day to submit. We know things are hectic, but give yourself time to provide thoughtful and detailed answers.
  • Have fun. This is a contest after all! Enjoy the experience and learn from the process.

Video Submission Tips & Criteria

  • Your pitch video must be presented by the company CEO or Founder who will be your on-stage presenter at the live event. AI-generated voices are not permitted.
  • We recommend including a short demo of how the product works.
  • Be compelling and passionate when telling the story about your company and product. This is your opportunity to connect with the judges in a personal way.
  • The time limit is a strict three minutes. The judges will not watch beyond that.
  • Do not reuse videos created for another purpose. Be intentional in crafting your pitch to address the contest.
  • You can reference past Top 10 Finalists pitches to get a feel for the desired content.

Questions?