Blackstone and other corporate partners join
the Ballistic X Pursuit Cyber Fellows program, charting a path to
narrow the industry's talent gap and economic divides
SAN
FRANCISCO and NEW
YORK, April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ballistic
Ventures, the venture capital firm dedicated exclusively to funding
and incubating entrepreneurs and innovations in cybersecurity, and
Pursuit, a workforce development social impact organization that
trains low-income individuals so they can build careers in tech,
today announced the Ballistic X Pursuit Cyber Fellows program,
a groundbreaking initiative to tackle the cybersecurity skills gap
by providing adults from non-traditional backgrounds with the
training and support necessary to excel in these careers.
The Ballistic X Pursuit Cyber Fellows
program charts a path to narrow the industry's talent gap and
economic divides.
The cyber skills gap is one of the most pressing challenges
facing the cybersecurity industry today. Despite the industry's
rapid growth, there is a significant shortage of qualified
professionals – particularly from non-traditional backgrounds, as
open opportunities aren't accessible to everyone. The Ballistic X
Pursuit Cyber Fellows program aims to tackle this challenge
head-on. Tapping into Pursuit's proven software development
training program, the Ballistic X Pursuit Cyber Fellows program
empowers talented adults from non-traditional backgrounds to get
the training and support needed to be hired, retained and succeed
in the cybersecurity industry.
"The Ballistic X Pursuit Cyber Fellows program represents more
than just a commitment to diversity in cybersecurity; it's a
catalyst for innovation, fostering a convergence of unique
backgrounds that will undoubtedly spawn new ideas, technologies,
and approaches to secure our rapidly evolving world," said
Jake Seid, Co-founder and General
Partner of Ballistic Ventures. "At Ballistic, we believe in the
power of diverse perspectives not only to address the industry's
skills gap but to shape the future of cybersecurity."
In existing Pursuit programs, which have focused on employing
talent to software development and engineering teams, fellows have
gone from earning an average of $18K
to over $90K working at some of the
best companies in the world. The Ballistic X Pursuit Cyber Fellows
program intends to support these efforts for fellows within the
cybersecurity community.
"At Pursuit, our mission has always been focused on reshaping
the narrative for individuals from underserved backgrounds. The
Ballistic X Pursuit Cyber Fellows program is a testament to the
impact we can make when we empower talented individuals with the
right skills and connect them with industry leaders," said Jukay
Hsu, Co-founder and CEO of Pursuit. "Together with Ballistic, we
are forging a more inclusive pathway to success for aspiring
cybersecurity professionals, bridging the cyber skills gap, and
providing employers with trained non-traditional talent to help
their businesses thrive."
Founding members of this transformative program include
Blackstone and other corporate partners, which have committed to
employing fellows on their cybersecurity teams. For founding
members and employers who sign on, the Ballistic X Pursuit Cyber
Fellows program helps nurture long-term talent through three-years
of on-the-job support and training.
"Becoming a founding member of the Ballistic X Pursuit Cyber
Fellows program was an easy choice for us. Our engineering team has
worked with Pursuit for years, and from a cybersecurity
perspective, this just makes sense," said Adam Fletcher, Chief Security Officer of
Blackstone. "Not only does this new initiative contribute to
closing the industry's talent gap, but it also provides access to a
broader pool of individuals who are well-versed in a modern tech
stack with targeted cyber training. We are proud to be a part of
this initiative."
Blackstone has partnered with Pursuit since 2015. After many
years of success hiring engineering talent, adding cybersecurity
trained fellows was a natural extension of the partnership. A
select number of trial fellows completed their Pursuit
cybersecurity training and are successfully in-role at
Blackstone.
"I feel confident in achieving success with the support,
encouragement, and continuous behavioral and technical assistance
from Pursuit," said Lili Huang,
Cloud Security, Blackstone Cybersecurity and Pursuit Fellow. "With
Pursuit's guidance, I am equipped to overcome any challenge on my
path to success."
By creating pathways to cybersecurity careers, the Ballistic X
Pursuit Cyber Fellows program will transform people, families and
industries. However, this transformation requires the community's
support. The collective is calling on all corporations with
cybersecurity hiring initiatives in 2024 to explore the program and
consider partnering. Learn more at pursuit.org/cyber.
About Ballistic Ventures
Ballistic Ventures is a
venture capital firm solely dedicated to early-stage cybersecurity
and cyber-related companies. The partners have spent their entire
careers defending against every cyber threat conceivable. Members
of the firm have founded, operated, and funded over 100 successful
cybersecurity firms – including Abnormal Security, AlienVault,
ArcSight, Fortify, Mandiant, and Shape Security – led over 10,000
security professionals globally, and have 40+ years of experience
in venture capital. The Ballistic portfolio includes Aembit,
Alethea, ArmorCode, AuthMind, Codezero, Concentric AI, Nudge
Security, Oligo Security, Pangea, Perygee, Reach Security,
SpecterOps, Talon (PANW) and Veza. Our experience provides
entrepreneurs impactful support from people focused on the same
mission. Our networks and relationships open doors for our
founders. Learn more at ballisticventures.com.
About Pursuit
Pursuit is an innovative social impact
organization whose mission is to close the opportunity gap in
America. Founded in 2011 and based in New
York City, Pursuit trains adults with the most need and
potential to get their first tech jobs, advance in their careers
and become the next generation of leaders in tech. On average,
Pursuit Fellows increase their annual income from $18,000 to nearly $90,000, and work at leading companies, including
Citi, Uber, Peloton, and Blackstone. Pursuit Fellows begin their
journey with a year of high-quality, intensive, and supportive
training, followed by three years of career development once
they've been hired. Pursuit also works directly with companies to
secure hiring commitments, which results in long-term growth and
retention. To ensure the Pursuit Fellowship is sustainable and
scalable, Pursuit uses a blended finance model that enables it to
tap into philanthropic capital as well as impact investor funding.
By breaking down barriers and connecting talent with opportunity,
Pursuit empowers their Fellows to bring change to their families,
tech companies, and communities across the nation. To learn more,
visit pursuit.org.
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SOURCE Ballistic Ventures