FULTON, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DataTribe, a global cyber foundry that invests in and co-builds next-generation cybersecurity and data science companies, today announced the Maryland Cybersecurity Awards has named its Co-Founder and Investment Board Member, Mike Janke, a Finalist in the category of Cybersecurity Champion of the Year Award. The awards are judged by a panel of experienced professionals independent of the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc. (CAMI), the award’s host.

“I’ve spent most of my career operating companies and investing in the Maryland cybersecurity community due to its unique proximity to the intelligence community. With a mission to curate technologies out of the government for the commercial market, this award is a huge honor and I feel grateful to work with some of the top investors and entrepreneurs in this very special region,” said Mike Janke, Co-Founder of DataTribe.

Janke has been recognized in multiple awards across the cybersecurity industry, such as Visionary of the Year by the Center for Democracy & Technology, Top 100 lists including Foreign Policy Magazine's Global Thinkers, GovConExec’s Washington Executives, Goldman Sachs’ Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs; and top 10 lists for Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies and MIT Technology Review’s New Innovative Technologies. Mike is also former founder CEO and Board Member of SOC, one of the U.S largest private defense firms.

“As a portfolio founder with DataTribe, I can attest to the pure intuition and experience that Janke brings to each deal and technology decision within the market. As a regional operator, I see the value and benefit in combining the regional talent with the technology prowess coming out of the entrepreneur community. Janke has tapped into this unique region with his vast experience in the cybersecurity market and vision for what technology breakthroughs are on the horizon,” said Gregg Smith, Board Chairman of CAMI; CEO of Attila Security, a DataTribe portfolio company.

This announcement comes on the heels of the launch of the DataTribe Challenge, the company’s third annual cybersecurity startup competition. The competition is poised to identify and curate Pre-Series A, seed high-technology start-ups with a vision to disrupt cybersecurity and data science.

About DataTribe

DataTribe was launched in 2015 with the vision of empowering technologists in the Washington, D.C. region to build and grow successful cybersecurity companies.

Founded by leading investors, startup veterans and alumni of the U.S. intelligence community, DataTribe commits capital, in-kind business services and decades of professional expertise to co-build the next generation of cybersecurity, big data and analytics companies. DataTribe is headquartered in Fulton, MD. For more information, visit https://datatribe.com.