Las Vegas
Tuesday, August 4 | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Main Stage, Business Hall
Black Hat’s Global Startup Spotlight Competition brings together the very best emerging cybersecurity companies from across the Black Hat portfolio by spotlighting innovation, technical excellence, and real-world impact on a global stage.
New for 2026, this inaugural competition features elite startups who have already proven themselves by winning top honors at Black Hat’s regional Startup Spotlight Competitions. These companies represent the cutting edge of cybersecurity innovation and are shaping the future of how organizations defend themselves against real-world threats.
This is not an open call.
This is the final stage.
Meet the Regional Champions
The Global Startup Spotlight Competition proudly features winning startups from across the Black Hat global ecosystem, including:
- SecTor 2025 Winner: Legion Security
- Black Hat Middle East & Africa (MEA) 2025 Winner: Sahl
- Black Hat Europe 2025 Winner: Geordie AI
- Black Hat Asia 2026 Winner: Prowler
- Black Hat USA 2026 Winner: To Be Determined
The top startup selected onsite at Black Hat USA's Startup Spotlight Competition will earn an exclusive opportunity to advance into the Global Startup Spotlight final!
Competition Emcee
Check back for announcements on our confirmed emcee!
Judges
Check back for announcements on our confirmed judges!
Finalists will present their cutting-edge product or service before our panel of judges and live audience in a final pitch, followed by Q&A from our judges.
NOTE: Judges must disclose any conflicts of interest with participating startups and are not permitted to score. Each startup is scored according to the official competition criteria, with final rankings determined by the average of all eligible judges' evaluations.
Questions? Contact startup@blackhat.com
