CrowdStrike announced an expansion of its annual Cybersecurity Startup Accelerator on October 6, 2026, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and NVIDIA. This initiative aims to support early-stage companies in developing innovative cybersecurity products through a combination of technical mentorship, business development, and enhanced access to enterprise security ecosystems.
Global Initiative for Cybersecurity Startups
The program is open for applications worldwide until November 2, 2026. Running from January 11 to March 8, 2027, the eight-week accelerator will connect startup founders with technical experts, business leaders, and security mentors. The accelerator specifically aims to assist seed-stage companies, providing an equity-free opportunity as stated on its application platform.
This year’s edition of the accelerator offers participants streamlined access to CrowdStrike’s Falcon ecosystem. Startups will have the opportunity to utilize Falcon Foundry agent creation tools and Falcon APIs, aiding in the development of verified integrations and the publication of solutions in the CrowdStrike Marketplace.
Enhanced Resources and Technical Support
Participants will benefit from AWS’s expertise in cloud technology, receiving guidance on AWS Partner Network onboarding, technical validation, and AWS Marketplace listings. This support combines cloud expertise with commercial backing, helping startups prepare their products for enterprise deployment and access established purchasing channels.
NVIDIA will contribute through its NVIDIA Inception program, offering technical training and developer resources. Depending on eligibility and engagement levels, additional technical and go-to-market support will be available. The program aims to provide startups with access to AI expertise and accelerated computing resources for developing security technologies.
Focus Areas and Future Prospects
The accelerator’s focus areas include AI security, agentic security operations, cloud protection, identity security, application security, software supply chains, and data security. Specific objectives include securing AI workloads, AI red teaming, autonomous security operations, AI-driven triage, runtime protection, and machine identity.
Daniel Bernard, CrowdStrike’s chief business officer, emphasized the partners’ commitment to helping founders innovate and expand their customer base. Amazon’s chief information security officer, CJ Moses, highlighted the importance of solutions designed for real-world applications, while NVIDIA’s security executive, Saša Zdjelar, focused on the efficiency of security products at machine speed.
Up to 10 startups will advance to a live pitch event at RSAC 2027, scheduled for April 5–8. Winners of this showcase may receive investment consideration from the CrowdStrike Falcon Fund. The accelerator has supported over 90 startups, with their cumulative funding nearing $1 billion. Notable alumni achievements include Jazz’s development of its agentic data loss prevention tool, Melody, and CrowdStrike’s acquisition of Onum.
