News
ATHENE UP26@it-sa finalists: An interview with Fuzzware
On stage in Miami, the team hacked into the US power grid live and realised afterwards that critical infrastructure needs more robust security testing. Today, Fuzzware automatically tests the firmware of embedded systems for vulnerabilities, without the need for a physical device or source code. In this interview, the founders explain how a successful hack led to the creation of a company – and what the most difficult step in the process was.
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ATHENE Startup Award UP26@it-sa: Five finalists have been selected
The finalists for the ATHENE Startup Award UP26@it-sa have been selected. Fuzzware, SQUR, Complioty, RedCastle and Blindsight will compete against each other in the final on 28 October 2026 as part of the it-sa Expo & Congress in Nuremberg. This annual award recognises the most promising cybersecurity start-ups in the DACH region.
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Time for security innovations: Apply now for the ATHENE Startup Award UP26@it-sa!
Cybersecurity startups from the DACH region can now apply for the ATHENE Startup Award UP26@it-sa through July 12, 2026. The winning teams will receive prize money, networking opportunities with key players in the German cybersecurity market, and high visibility at Europe’s leading security trade fair.
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More start-ups in the cybersecurity sector
ATHENE, Europe’s largest cybersecurity research centre, together with the ATHENE Digital Hub Cybersecurity – part of the German government’s Digital Hub Initiative – and Futury, one of Germany’s ten government-funded start-up incubators, are launching a strategic partnership to support research-based cybersecurity start-ups. Together, the partners aim to accelerate the transformation of cutting-edge scientific research into marketable businesses and to strengthen the Rhine-Main region as a leading hub for cybersecurity innovation.
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The winners of the ATHENE Startup Award UP25@it-sa have been announced
The ATHENE Startup Award UP25@it-sa was presented on October 8, 2025, as part of the it-sa Expo&Congress in Nuremberg. The Freiburg-based company Infrafon prevailed against four other finalists in the live pitch and received prize money of €7,500 for its innovative solution for secure access control in regulated environments.
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Contact
Clara Pfeuffer
ATHENE Digital Hub Cybersecurity
ATHENE Digital Hub Cybersecurity