SparkCognition Closes Series B Funding Round

CME Ventures and Verizon Ventures join existing investors to fuel the artificial intelligence and machine learning innovator's aggressive growth strategy

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SparkCognition

Apr 26, 2016, 08:30 ET

AUSTIN, Texas, April 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SparkCognition, the world's first Cognitive Security Analytics company, today announced that it has closed a $6M oversubscribed Series B funding round adding new investors CME Ventures, the venture capital arm of CME Group, and Verizon Ventures with participation from existing investors The Entrepreneurs' Fund (TEF) and Alameda Ventures. SparkCognition will use the funding to fuel its rapid growth as the company continues to gain major traction in the IoT and cyber security verticals.

"We are already well on our way to an AI-powered Industrial IoT Revolution – where cognitive systems will truly augment human capabilities, but at machine speed and big data scale," said Amir Husain, Founder and CEO of SparkCognition. "Our collaboration with CME Ventures and Verizon Ventures further validate the work we are doing at SparkCognition and speak to the industry needs we are addressing within the Industrial IoT and cyber security markets."

SparkCognition has developed cutting-edge machine learning technology that model physical and virtual assets, continuously learn from data, and derive intelligent insights to secure and protect assets round the clock. In just under two years of launching its solution, the company has acquired dozens of major clients, including multiple Fortune 500 and Fortune 1,000 organizations. SparkCognition was awarded IBM's InnovateApp 2014, has been named a Gartner Cool Vendor and Austin's Hottest Start Up by SXSW in 2015 and the winner of Nokia's Global Open Innovation competition. The company was also selected as one of the top companies enabling the safety and security of the Industrial Internet by CIO Review.

"We are excited to have CME Ventures and Verizon Ventures joining as strategic investors," said Manoj Saxena, Chairman of the Board of SparkCognition and Former General Manager of IBM Watson. "The executive team at SparkCognition has done a remarkable job of acquiring an impressive list of clients, bringing on the best and the brightest, producing cutting edge IP, growing revenue, and building strong industry partnerships."

"CME Ventures is pleased to welcome SparkCognition as its latest investment given the potential for its technology to impact the markets of the future," said Rumi Morales, Executive Director, CME Ventures.

SparkCognition's technology is capable of harnessing real time infrastructure data and learning from it continuously, allowing for more accurate risk mitigation and prevention policies to intervene and avert disasters. The company's cybersecurity centered solution analyses structured and unstructured data and natural language sources to identify potential attacks in the IoT environment. The uniqueness of the cognitive platform is resonated by the fact that it can continuously learn from data and derive automated insights to thwart any emerging issue.

"With the emergence of connected devices, cyber security becomes extremely important and solutions that can analyze structured and unstructured security data is needed," said Vijay Doradla, director at Verizon Ventures. "The uniqueness of SparkCognition's cognitive platform is clear. We look forward to working with this innovative group as their powerful technology propels IoT and cyber security forward."

About SparkCognition

SparkCognition, Inc. is the world's first Cognitive Security Analytics company based in Austin, Texas. The company is successfully building and deploying a Cognitive, data-driven Analytics platform for Clouds, Devices and the Internet of Things industrial and security markets by applying patent-pending algorithms that deliver out of-band, symptom-sensitive analytics, insights, and security. SparkCognition was named the 2015 Hottest Start Up in Austin by SXSW and the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, was the only US-based company to win Nokia's 2015 Open Innovation Challenge, was a 2015 Gartner Cool Vendor, and is a 2016 Edison Award Winner. SparkCognition's Founder and CEO, Amir Husain, is a highly awarded serial entrepreneur and prolific inventor with nearly 50 patents and applications to his name. Amir has been named the top technology entrepreneur in Austin by the Austin Business Journal, is the 2016 Austin Under 40 Award Winner for Technology and Science, and serves as an advisor to the IBM Watson Group and the University of Texas Computer Science Department. For more information on the company, its technology and team, please visit http://www.sparkcognition.com.

About CME Ventures

As an industry leader, CME Group recognizes the need to foster innovation – both within and outside of our company. With that in mind, CME Ventures LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CME Group, Inc., makes minority stake investments in early stage technology companies whose innovative products and services may impact CME Group's business in the longer term.

CME Ventures seeks companies with technologies that could impact platforms and systems, enhance user experience, or provide new products and services in the financial ecosystem of the future.

About VerizonVentures

Combining smart capital with access to Verizon's vast ecosystem and strategic roadmap, Verizon Ventures delivers entrepreneurs smart money and targeted resources. From collaboration to commercialization, Verizon Ventures is a valuable bridge connecting innovators with pathways that advance their businesses.

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SOURCE SparkCognition