• Cync continues cultivating brightest ideas on cybersecurity research
  
• Ayasdi's innovative approach to machine intelligence and advanced analytics enables greater cyber situational awareness for customers

BALTIMORE, Nov. 5, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the bwtech@UMBC Cyber Incubator announced today that machine intelligence and advanced analytics provider, Ayasdi,will be the sixth cyber start-up to graduate from the highly successful Cync Program. A ceremony marking the occasion took place last week at the CyberMaryland Conference in Baltimore. 

Cync is a global cyber start-up initiative designed to cultivate the brightest ideas in cybersecurity and commercialize these innovations for use in the federal marketspace. Formed in 2011 by Northrop Grumman and bwtech@UMBC, this unique partnership creates a pathway for technology-driven start-ups to speed advanced solutions to customers while providing extensive business incubation expertise and access to capital and talent to help companies thrive.

"As a leading cyber provider to the federal government, we have an obligation to foster innovation to ensure that the best ideas are made available to our nation to stay ahead of the ever evolving threat," said Chris Valentino, director of strategy, cyber division, Northrop Grumman Information Systems. "No one company can do it all, it's innovation from all corners of the world that will make the difference so giving a boost to those with great ideas is what our partnership is about as we strive to keep our global networks safe."

"Ayasdi achieved much success while participating in the Cync program with fundraising and business development," said Ellen Hemmerly, executive director of bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park. "We are delighted that Ayasdi will continue to grow its government business as a tenant at bwtech@UMBC."

Leverege, of Baltimore and ParaTools, of University of Oregon, join Cync this month as the newest cyber start-ups accepted into the program.

Cync graduates include DB Networks, KoolSpan, AccelerEyes (ArrayFire), Five Directions and Oculis Labs. Current occupants at Cync include iWebGate, Perth, Australia; Light Point Security, Baltimore; and OptioLabs, Baltimore.

Based in Menlo Park, Calif., with offices in the Cyber Incubator at bwtech@UMBC, Ayasdi's machine intelligence software uses Topological Data Analysis to simplify how knowledge is extracted from the most complex data sets to help governments and enterprises make the right operational decisions quickly.  Among its awards, Ayasdi was selected as a 2015 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum and, for the second consecutive year, was named one of the 10 Most Innovative Companies in Big Data by Fast Company Magazine. In March 2015, Ayasdi announced a $55 million Series C funding round led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Beyers, which joined other leading investors in the company. For more about Ayasdi, click here.

The Cync program is currently taking applications, looking for companies that address critical market needs in the areas of cyber, data sciences, big data, secure mobility, and cyber physical systems/critical infrastructure protection. For information about applying to this scholarship program, go to www.bwtechumbc.com.

bwtech@UMBC is a 71-acre research and technology community at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). With more than 500,000 square feet of office and laboratory space, it is home to more than 120 technology and life science companies at all stages of development. bwtech@UMBC offers collaboration with university faculty and students, and enjoys a strategic and convenient location, close to downtown Baltimore, BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and Washington, D.C. Its annual economic impact on the state is estimated to be more than $500 million.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

CONTACT: Marynoele Benson
         Northrop Grumman Corporation
         703-556-1651
         marynoele.benson@ngc.com
         
         Megan Hanks
         University of Maryland, Baltimore County
         410-455-5791
         mhanks@umbc.edu