Hardshell Wins $25,000 Grand Prize in VetsinTech Startup Pitch Contest

VetsinTech has named AI data security startup Hardshell the grand prize winner of its sixth annual Startup Pitch Contest, awarding the veteran-founded company $25,000 at a competition highlighting early-stage technology businesses led by U.S. military veterans.

The national nonprofit announced the winners following a live pitch event held Aug. 20 at Andreessen Horowitz’s San Francisco office. Five startups selected from a field of semifinalists competed at the event, which was hosted by VetsinTech with J.P. Morgan as presenting sponsor.

Hardshell, co-founded by Hunter Moore and Andrew Schoka, is developing technology aimed at a growing enterprise challenge: allowing organizations to use sensitive and proprietary information with AI systems without losing control of where that data resides or how it is accessed.

The company’s platform keeps enterprise data within an organization’s own environment while identifying and testing potential data-exposure vulnerabilities. It also monitors how AI systems retrieve and use company information and applies protections intended to prevent data leakage or unauthorized extraction without reducing AI performance.

As businesses deploy AI applications across more internal workflows, controlling access to proprietary information has become an operational and security consideration alongside model performance. Hardshell is positioning its technology around that problem, giving enterprises tools to evaluate how AI systems interact with sensitive data and address vulnerabilities before information is exposed.

“Winning the VetsinTech Startup Pitch Competition is meaningful validation of the problem we’re solving and the company we’re building,” said Schoka, Hardshell’s co-founder and CEO. He added that protecting the sensitive information used by AI systems has become increasingly important as enterprises accelerate adoption.

Bandelier Technologies finished second and received $10,000. The New Mexico-based deep-tech company is commercializing quantum sensing, imaging and networking technologies originating from U.S. national laboratories.

Its technology is being developed for advanced detection, precision navigation and resilient communications across defense, national security and commercial applications. The systems are particularly focused on complex or contested operating environments where conventional sensing and communications technologies may be less effective.

Third-place winner Hyperios Technologies received $5,000. The defense and space technology company is developing physics-aware AI and distributed sensor-fusion software for space domain awareness and missile warning applications.

Hyperios’ cloud-native platform combines information from existing sensor networks to support earlier detection and more confident characterization of events including rocket launches, ballistic missiles and spacecraft re-entry. The approach is designed to improve the usefulness of existing sensor infrastructure without requiring organizations to deploy additional sensor hardware.

To qualify for the VetsinTech competition, participating companies were required to have a U.S. military veteran founder and offer a technology solution with applications in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space, fintech or enterprise SaaS. Volunteerism and positive community impact were also among the judging criteria.

A panel of investors, technology executives and other industry experts selected the winners. The contest is part of VetsinTech’s broader effort to connect veterans with opportunities in technology entrepreneurship as well as education and employment.

Veteran-owned companies account for approximately 5.3% to 5.4% of U.S. businesses, according to data cited from the U.S. Census Bureau.

“What struck me was the range of problems these veteran entrepreneurs are taking on, and the discipline they bring to solving them,” VetsinTech founder and CEO Katherine Webster said. She also credited J.P. Morgan for its continued support of the organization’s veteran entrepreneur community.

San Francisco-based VetsinTech has more than 125,000 veterans in its network and operates 28 chapters nationwide. The nonprofit provides technology-focused education, employment and entrepreneurship programs for veterans and military spouses, drawing on technology companies, industry leaders and former service members to support transitions into technology careers and startup development.