DataTribe
Cybersecurity/intelligence-focused venture firm; led Strider Technologies' $2M seed round (May 2019) and participated in its Series A ($10M, Oct 2020) and Series B ($45M, Apr 2022).
DataTribe is a Fulton, Maryland-based cybersecurity- and data-science-focused startup foundry — co-building companies alongside recent alumni of the U.S. intelligence community and Silicon Valley operators, rather than only writing checks into existing startups. Founded in 2015 by Bob Ackerman, Michael Janke, and Steven Witt, it sources many deals via its annual Cybersecurity Startup Challenge and provides capital, in-kind services, and access to a network of intelligence-community and industry advisors, adapting government-derived cyber expertise for commercial products.
Overview
- Firm
- DataTribe
- Headquarters
- Fulton, MD
- Founded
- 2015
- AUM
- Third fund closed at $41M (reported 2025, roughly half deployed at time of reporting); a secondary, lower-confidence estimate cites ~$200M aggregate AUM across all funds, not independently confirmed
- Stages
- Seed, Series A, Series B
- Thesis
- Invest in and co-build world class startups focused on generational leaps in cybersecurity and data science.
- Website
- datatribe.com
Portfolio companies1
Partners3
- FounderRobert R. Ackerman Jr.Longtime Silicon Valley cybersecurity venture capitalist; founded AllegisCyber in 1996 as an early security-focused VC firm, then co-founded DataTribe in 2015 with Michael Janke and Steven Witt.
- FounderMichael JankeCo-founder of DataTribe and a former U.S. Navy SEAL Team 6 member who went on to found Silent Circle and SOC-USA.
- FounderSteven WittCo-founder of DataTribe and a former CIA officer who founded Onyara, the startup that commercialized the NSA's NiFi data-flow software before its acquisition by Hortonworks.
Frequently asked
- What is DataTribe?
- Invest in and co-build world class startups focused on generational leaps in cybersecurity and data science.
- How much does DataTribe manage?
- DataTribe manages Third fund closed at $41M (reported 2025, roughly half deployed at time of reporting); a secondary, lower-confidence estimate cites ~$200M aggregate AUM across all funds, not independently confirmed in assets, and was founded in 2015.
- What stages does DataTribe invest at?
- DataTribe invests at Seed, Series A, Series B.
Sources & citations5
Each claim links to its underlying source. Confidence reflects how directly the source supports the claim.
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DataTribe closed a third fund at $41M.
Yahoo Finance: Venture Firm DataTribe Raises $41MVerified2025-01-01 - 4
DataTribe's investment strategy of building cybersecurity firms from scratch.
The Information: DataTribe's Cybersecurity Investment Strategy: Building Firms From ScratchVerified2026-08-09 - 5
Bob Ackerman's co-founder/managing partner role at DataTribe.
Forbes Councils: Bob Ackerman — Managing Partner, Co-Founder, DataTribeVerified2026-08-09