FLF, recognized as a leading investor in the Southeast for early-stage tech, today announced the formation of its FLF Cybersecurity Advisory Board, further strengthening the cybersecurity ecosystem in Tampa Bay.

Studies from the International Monetary Fund report that cybercrime is projected to cost the world $23 trillion in 2027. As the use of digital platforms expands and cyber threats grow more advanced, organizations face a mounting need for cybersecurity companies building solutions that help them operate securely at scale. Cybersecurity will continue to be one of the most significant and complex challenges companies face for the foreseeable future and organizations will increasingly depend on security companies and experts to defend their systems.

Tampa Bay has emerged as a meaningful hub for cyber companies that are taking on this challenge. The area has long been home to MacDill Air Force Base, headquarters of U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command, where tens of thousands of personnel support globally distributed missions that depend on secure communications around the clock. Over time, Tampa Bay’s cybersecurity foundation expanded from national security into scaled technology businesses and the region is now home to globally recognized companies such as KnowBe4, ConnectWise, ReliaQuest and A-LIGN. Together, these companies have helped establish Tampa Bay as a concentration of security and infrastructure talent, enterprise expertise and scalable technology businesses, laying the groundwork for the next generation of cyber startups.

FLF has built a track record investing in cybersecurity, including Rewst, RapidFort, and Vali Cyber, and hired Jake Felman (formerly of ReliaQuest) to further shape its approach to evaluating and supporting cyber investments. Building on this momentum, FLF is reinforcing its commitment to cybersecurity through the formation of the FLF Cybersecurity Advisory Board – a group of experienced security leaders and investors who have built and currently lead cybersecurity companies and investment funds. The board will serve in an advisory role to FLF, providing real-world insight on security challenges and market trends, while also helping to support FLF founders building the next generation of cybersecurity companies. The board will work closely with Jake Felman (Director of Legal at FLF) and Rachael Ferm (Director of Investments at FLF), who are actively engaging with cybersecurity founders, attending industry conferences and identifying emerging cybersecurity companies. FLF is committed to building the investment infrastructure that Tampa Bay's growing cybersecurity ecosystem demands, ensuring the region becomes as known for backing security founders as it is for producing them.

“We want FLF to be viewed as a go-to partner for cybersecurity founders—not just for capital, but for meaningful resources and expertise,” said Jake Felman. “Cybersecurity is a core vertical in our investment strategy, and the formation of this board reinforces our long-term commitment to the sector.”

The inaugural members of the FLF Cybersecurity Advisory Board include:

• Scott Price, CEO and founder, A-LIGN

,When Scott Price founded A-LIGN in 2009, he set out to transform compliance from an annual checkbox into a year-round defense strategy. Nearly three decades into his career, he has built A-LIGN into a globally recognized leader in cybersecurity and compliance, with services spanning SOC, ISO, FedRAMP, CMMC, and more — all powered by A-SCEND, A-LIGN’s proprietary AI-driven audit platform. His work has earned him recognition as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist and inductee into the FSU College of Business Alumni Hall of Fame.

• Sunpreet “Sunny” Singh, Vice President, Insight Partners  

Sunny is a Vice President at global software investor Insight Partners, a $90B firm recognized as a leader in venture capital. Sunny has helped lead several prominent venture investments, including the Series F for both Anthropic and OpenAI, in addition to a range of category leaders from Series A to pre-IPO across cybersecurity. Since joining Insight in 2020, Sunny has worked closely with founders from early stage through growth, supporting company-building across product, go-to-market, and scaling initiatives while helping evaluate new investments in fast-evolving technical markets. He brings a strong perspective on security and enterprise adoption trends, informed by deep engagement with emerging technologies and the needs of modern organizations. 

• Deniz Sagnaklar, SVP, Lyra Technology Group

Deniz brings deep experience in managed services, software development, and technical operations to her role at Lyra Technology Group, a private equity-backed platform of 100+ IT and cybersecurity companies recognized as the fastest-growing MSP in the country. She helps portfolio companies scale through expanded strategic services, stronger account management, and driving cyber and AI adoption with existing clients. Prior to Lyra, Deniz served as Chief Growth Officer at Entara, a security-first provider specializing in cybersecurity, managed IT, and incident response, where she led growth, partnerships, and revenue initiatives. Her blend of technical insight and business leadership helps clients navigate evolving security challenges and adopt solutions that map to real-world enterprise needs.

In addition to the members listed above, the FLF Cybersecurity Advisory Board includes additional leaders who have chosen to participate privately. FLF expects to thoughtfully expand the board over time as the community grows.

FLF anticipates extending the Advisory Board model into FinTech and AI by year-end 2026.

About FLF

Florida Funders is a hybrid venture capital fund and investor network that finds, funds, and helps build early-stage technology companies. FLF combines a $300M+ venture platform with 2,000+ accredited investors to back breakout founders in B2B software, FinTech, AI, healthcare, and cybersecurity. Beyond capital, FLF’s team of seasoned entrepreneurs and investors provides operating expertise, strategic introductions, and a nationwide support network that helps founders succeed. By unifying venture capital with an engaged investor community, Florida Funders deliver exceptional outcomes for founders and LPs alike.

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FLF is constantly and actively looking to grow and add investors to its investor base. We have fully deployed our Fund 1 and Fund 2, and we’re now investing out of our Fund 3. For more information on FLF, please visit floridafunders.com. You can also keep up with the latest news from FLF on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and X. 

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