Finalists' Success Stories

The Global Security Challenge is proud of all its previous contenders and is delighted to say that not only the winners benefit from being involved with the Challenge...

TenCube - TenCube was started in 2005 with the sole intention of finding a creative and complete solution to the problem of lost phones.Recently acquired by McAfee, Inc. to deliver next generation mobility platform.

The CEO of TenCube, Darius Cheung said:

“GSC has been a great opportunity for us to participate in a growing security ecosystem, learn from the experts and other participants, as well as to compete and showcase our innovation. It is probably the only substantial competition globally that focuses on security innovation, a much needed platform indeed”

Vumii - a video surveillance software and GSC Finalist of 2006 raised $3.9m in funding last year and contributed a lot of its success to the GSC.

The CEO of Vumii, Randal Foster confirms this by saying:

"As a direct result from our participation in the GSC, Vumii acquired increased global credibility and benefited from greater global brand recognition from the investment community, security solution community, and potential employee population."

Secerno - a database security startup and GSC Finalist of 2006 established a partnership with KDDI and signed a major deal with expressHR. They also raised $16m in a funding round led by London's Amadeus Capital in July 2008.

iViZ - the world's only end-to-end, automated penetration testing software and GSC Semi-Finalist 2007 in Asia. They raised $2.5m in a funding round led by IDG Ventures in December 2007.

Bala Girisaballa, Vice President of iViZ said:

"Getting shortlisted at Global Security Challenge has helped us get global credibility. We congratulate Global Security Challenge for providing a fantastic platform for upcoming innovative companies in the security space. Since being shortlisted at GSC, iViZ has seen significant developments in technology, market and finance areas."

Metaforic - a leading provider of anti-tamper solutions and GSC Semi-Finalist 2008, closed a $2 million funding round from software specialist venture capitalists Pentech Ventures and the Scottish Co-Investment Fund.

"The funding comes on the heels of Metaforic being named as one of the security industry's rising stars. Last month, Metaforic was selected as a semi-finalist in the Global Security Challenge." (source Metaforic Press Release 1.10.08)

ForgetMeNot Software - a "software as a service" company that has developed a powerful unified messaging technology (Message Optimiser) that supports seamless interoperability between SMS, Email and Instant Messaging, sold a majority of its African subsidiary for $1.4 million to LonZim.

Andrew Smyth, Director at ForgetMeNot says:

“ForgetMeNot entered into the Global Security Challenge in 2008. Although it didn’t reach the Asian Semi-Finals, the experience was extremely valuable as it helped it refine its proposition to banks, not only in relation to payment authentication per se but also in relation to more general mobile banking applications.”

Arktis Radiation Detectors - a Swiss company that is developing a new generation of radiation detectors, based on a novel technology with unique capabilities. After being named a 2008 European Semi-Finalist, Arktis closed a seed financing round that brought their total fundraising to 2m Swiss francs (approx. $1.8m).

Rico Chandra, co-founder of Arktis, says:

“Taking part in the Global Security Challenge 2008 opened some new doors for us. Through the GSC we gained privileged access to an interesting network that combines experts of diverse disciplines under a common theme.”

ARE System - a Finalist from our GSC Idea competition in 2008, just realized their first pilot project at a ski resort in Austria for their kinetic avalanche-releasing equipment. Since their nomination as a GSC Finalist, ARE System has raised angel funding of about $200K and received buyer’s interest from around the world, including from far away resorts in Salt Lake City, Argentinia and New Zealand.

Markus Stracke, founder of ARE System, says:

“Participating in the Global Security Challenge 2008 helped us to think strategically about our business opportunities and opened important doors with the added credibility of having been named a GSC Finalist.”

AIGIS - a UK startup that developed unique blast mitigation solutions based on proprietary material system and European Finalist of the GSC in 2007. Marc Ottolini, the CEO of Aigis recently said: “Making it into the European semi-final of the Global Security Challenge has been a boost for the confidence of our team and our investors. It has also added to the reputation and credibility of Aigis in global markets. Apart from that the GSC events are great networking opportunities”.

Also our Startup Finalists from 2006 TIRF, ScanWalk and Auxetix (2007) received significant grants from universities and governments.

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Soundbites

"With the Global Security Challenge, we are able to identify the start-up companies that offer world-class solutions to problems and help the very best ones get their products into use–a very effective use of funding in a changing area like this. In the past five years we’ve identified some really promising technologies that we may not have otherwise come across, and which are important in the ongoing challenge to keep people safe without limiting their freedom.”

Dr. John Morgan, Deputy Director of TSWG

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"The kind of creativity, innovation and drive on display at the GSC Security Summit is the key to keeping ahead in the technological race with terrorists and others who want to harm our citizens”

Robert Hannigan, fmr Security Adviser to the UK Prime Minister and Head of Security Intelligence and Resilience

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"The Global Security Challenge is able to provide business perspectives and insights that help organizations build viable and sustainable businesses.”

Dr. Alastair MacWillson , Managing Director of Accenture’s Global Security Business

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"The GSC is a unique platform that is recognising innovation and entrepreneurialism within the wide domain of Global Security - an arena that is constantly changing."

John Backhouse, Non-Executive Director, Smiths Detection Group

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"We are glad to sponsor the grant award for the winner of the Global Security Challenge to further encourage innovators worldwide to continue to act on their dreams."

TSWG (U.S. Department of Defense)

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"We are delighted to be associated with this exciting global initiative."

Stephen Phipson, President of Smiths Detection

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"I applaud the mission of the Global Security Challenge that understood this principle of fostering innovation and the innovative entrepreneurs who competed in this competition with their high-quality technologies."

Jay Cohen, fmr Under Secretary for S&T, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

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"The Global Security Challenge offers a chance for entrepreneurs to overcome hurdles and find partners and customers."

Dr. Uwe Albrecht, Managing Partner at Siemens Venture Capital

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“At the Summit, we were able to make new contacts with potential investors, government officials, and press representatives on an international scale in one single day. That is truly a remarkable opportunity for a start-up!"

Matthew Dowling, CEO, Remedium Technologies

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"Thank you for your feedback. Preparing our submission for the Global Security Challenge was a worthwhile exercise for us, even though we weren't successful."

Anonymous Start-Up

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"The entrants in this year's Global Security Challenge illustrate how technology should rather be used to enhance our collective security..."

Sir Richard Dearlove, fmr. Chief of British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6)

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"The GSC is an example of the innovative thinking we need to stay ahead of the security curve."

Bill Frist, fmr. U.S. Senate Majority Leader

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"The high standard of exciting entries in today's Global Security Challenge is proof that competition is often a vital catalyst in driving that process forward."

Lord Drayson, fmr. U.K. Minister for Defence Procurement

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“The GSC has been a great opportunity for us to participate in a growing security ecosystem, learn from the experts and other participants, as well as to compete and showcase our innovation. It is probably the only substantial competition globally that focuses on security innovation, a much needed platform indeed”

Darius Cheung, CEO of TenCube , Asia Finalist 2007 was recently acquired by McAfee

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"The GSC's Cloud Security Challenge not only allows us to find the much needed new security technologies that will be needed to minimise the risks in using the cloud – it also allows us to find new questions that we will need to find answers to."

Martin Sadler, Director of the Systems Security Lab at HP Labs