and investors shape the future of AI across six verticals.
AI Insiders: Cybersecurity
Acceleration Amid Turbulence.
The AI buildout is moving at full speed. Markets are volatile. Exploit timelines have collapsed to zero. And security for AI clocked in at just 2.6% of total cyber funding in 2025.
This invite-only salon brings together 150 security leaders, AI founders, and investors to confront what's real, what's hype, and where the next wave of cyber defense is actually heading.
AI Insiders is not a conference. It's a vertical intelligence network. Each edition is laser-focused on one sector. This one: Cybersecurity.
Why This Night Matters
Everyone is talking about AI threats. But the real questions are harder:
If time-to-exploit is now zero, what does your vulnerability management strategy work at all?
AI is reshaping identity, access, and trust at every layer. What's the framework for accountability at the boundaries where human agency ends and AI agency begins?
Security for AI captured just 2.6% of cyber investment funding last year. Where is the money actually going, and where should it be going?
The industry is moving fast under pressure. What needs to accelerate, and what needs to cool down?
If you're building, buying, funding, or defending AI systems, this is the room where those answers take shape.
Headliners
Paul Calatayud: 5x CISO: Palo Alto Networks, UnitedHealth, Aqua Security, (GP, CircleRock Capital)
Announcing more next week!
Past speakers include:
Christopher Chew, Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
Michelle Dennedy, CPO-in-Residence, Abaxx / PrivacyCode (ex-Cisco, Sun, Juniper)
Malika Aubakirova, Partner, a16z
Shreya Shekhar, Partner, Greylock
Feyza Haskaraman, Principal, Menlo Ventures
Chenxi Wang, Managing General Partner, Rain Capital
David Hahn, Partner, Ballistic Ventures
James Green, Partner, CRV
Jack Cable, CEO, Corridor
David Haber, CEO, Lakera
Tanya Verma, Founder, Tinfoil (YC)
Sujoy Gupta, Head of Engineering, Tools for Humanity
Startup Spotlights
Announcing more next week!
Who's in the Room
50% CISOs & security leads: budget holders and frontline operators making the decisions in Fortune 500 and high-growth companies
30% Founders & operators: builders shipping AI-native defense, identity, and infrastructure tools
10% Investors: enough capital in the room to spark deals, not enough to turn the night into a pitchfest
10% Media & analysts: narrative makers who amplify signal and cohere the story while keeping privileged conversation off the record
Program
2:00 PM - Arrival & Networking
Curated matchmaking, craft drinks, and light bites.
2:30 PM - Opening Remarks
What's at stake tonight. The state of AI x Cybersecurity. How to make the most of this room.
Julie Tsai, Bhavya Gupta, Sharat Ganesh, Merve Isler (Marvelous).
2:45 PM - Keynote
Theme: Acceleration amid Turbulence. The AI buildout, the security gap, and what leaders need to do now.
3:15 PM - Panel 1: Where the Money Is (and Isn't) Going Security for AI was 2.6% of cyber spend last year. Where is the real trend line, what is overfunded, what is underfunded, and what is the next vertical integration play? How does this impact expectations for startups’ ARR? Their Vision? And can these be reconciled? See what VCs and founders have to say to each other face-to-face.
3:45 PM - Panel 2: Is Your Agent Human? Identity, Trust, and the Time-to-Exploit Collapse.
Time-to-exploit has collapsed. AI is rewriting identity and access at every layer. What frameworks still hold, and what needs to be rebuilt from scratch? How should AI standards keep pace with AI governance.
4:15 PM - Startup Showcase
Rapid-fire demos from the companies building the next generation of cyber defense.
4:45 PM - Closing & Call to Action
What's next: upcoming AI Insiders verticals, partnership opportunities, and how to stay connected.
5:00 - 5:30 PM - Networking
High-trust networking continues. Speakers, founders, and investors over drinks.
Startup Showcase
5 startups. 150 security decision-makers. 5 minutes on stage.
We offer both sponsored and invited showcase slots. Whether you're ready to invest in visibility or want to earn your spot on merit, we want to hear from you.
Apply: https://aiinsiders.us/showcase
Past showcase: Lakera, Cyera, Tinfoil, Zania AI, Pangea, Straiker AI, Scale AI and more.
Access
Private, invite-only. Request waitlist access; every name is vetted for trust and impact.
Learn more: https://aiinsiders.us
Sponsorship: https://aiinsiders.us/partnerships
Partners: AWS, Silicon Valley Bank, Swissnex, Verizon Innovation Lab
Past media coverage: Reuters, Business Insider, Yahoo Finance, Morningstar
Past speakers and partners from: a16z, Greylock, Menlo Ventures, Ballistic Ventures, Rain Capital, CRV, FBI, Stanford, OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, DeepMind, and more.
Past events: https://lu.ma/agenticai | https://lu.ma/csecurity
Attendance & Registration
Limited to 150 curated attendees
Government ID or passport required for entry
Must be registered and approved
Venue policies apply
Code of Conduct: All speakers and guests are expected to engage respectfully and professionally.
Explore our vision further at: https://aiinsiders.us
and investors shape the future of AI across six verticals.