{"id":3706,"date":"2021-05-30T16:24:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-30T16:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.strata.io\/?p=3706"},"modified":"2021-11-19T07:24:53","modified_gmt":"2021-11-19T07:24:53","slug":"top-2-is-a-win-rsa-2021-innovation-sandbox","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.strata.io\/blog\/company-culture\/top-2-is-a-win-rsa-2021-innovation-sandbox\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 2 is a Win at RSA 2021 Innovation Sandbox Contest"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\"Strata<\/span><\/p>\n

The RSA Conference Innovation Sandbox Contest<\/a> is a big deal. It\u2019s the Academy Awards for Cybersecurity startups. Of course, like everything else in the COVID era, the whole event was virtual.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The presentation was pre-recorded by company execs \u2014 in our case, Strata<\/a> Co-Founder, and Chief Product Officer, Eric Leach<\/a>. He was in a soundproof room at our Boulder, Colorado HQ, and the ceremony was on Zoom. Our team was all watching from a virtual viewing party in separate locations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kudos to the RSA Sandbox team for putting this together for the first time virtually. It must have been quite a feat to wrap their heads around to plan, then execute. They did a super job and we\u2019re super grateful that the show went on even if it couldn\u2019t be in person.<\/span><\/p>\n

That being said, it was weird doing this all from a computer screen. Sure, a lot of learning about ring lights, microphones, and camera angles were had, but the energy of other people was missed. There\u2019s a camaraderie you can only really truly feel in person. Especially when you win or come as close to winning as possible, and all you can do is high-five the air.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is the story of how Strata came to be in the top 2<\/a> at the RSA Conference Innovation Sandbox\u00a0<\/span>Contest 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nThe RSA Sandbox Contest 2021 \u2014 A Virtual Experience<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/p>\n

The virtual green room is lonely. Only the presenter is there. No buzz of excitement from others waiting in the wings, no craft services full of treats to help distract the nerves. The emptiness added to the whole surrealness of the <\/span>experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

Somehow though, it also added to the anticipation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Eric says he tried hard not to think about that countdown clock or the possibility of not finishing before the buzzer. As a true Californian and accomplished surfer, he harnessed the knowledge that anxiousness and excitement are actually almost the same emotions. As long as your brain is steered to the latter, it doesn\u2019t know the difference.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, when Eric Leach was up to<\/span>\u00a0bat, you only saw his cool charisma (we may be a little biased) and had no doubt that he would knock it out of the park.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Finalists and Judging Criteria for the RSA Sandbox Contest\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The competition was fierce. In fact, <\/span>Hugh Thompson<\/span><\/a>, moderator of the RSA 2021 Innovation Sandbox Contest, said that this was the most outstanding year \u2014 ever \u2014 in terms of innovation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe velocity at which these companies are moving and customers are adopting the technologies is like nothing that has ever been seen before,\u201d described the group of finalists by o<\/span>ne of the judges, <\/span>Paul Kocher<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>criteria the RSA Conference 2021<\/span><\/a> Sandbox Contest judges were looking at included:<\/span><\/p>\n