SAN FRANCISCO, January 30, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Security Tinkerers group, in collaboration with Okta and SentinelOne, is thrilled to announce "Pitch for Charity," a dynamic event bringing together Chief Security Officers (CSOs) and the tech community to spotlight innovative startups and support meaningful causes. This gathering will take place on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM PT at Okta’s Headquarters in San Francisco.
The event, tailored exclusively for CSOs, will feature five pitches from groundbreaking startups aiming to redefine the cybersecurity and tech landscape. Attendees will gain firsthand insight into cutting-edge solutions while fostering collaboration within the security community.
"Pitch for Charity" isn’t just about innovation; it’s about impact. Through the generous support of sponsors and participants, the event has raised $100,000 in donations, directed to two vital organizations:
CodePath: A nonprofit that expands access to cybersecurity and coding education for underrepresented groups.
Hack the Hood: A community-centered organization empowering youth of color through technology and career readiness.
Where: Okta Headquarters, 100 First Street, San Francisco
Who: Organized by Security Tinkerers and co-sponsored by Okta and SentinelOne
"This event highlights the power of collaboration among CSOs and leading tech companies to drive innovation while making a tangible difference in our communities," said Chris Castaldo, Security Tinkerers. "We’re excited to spotlight the future of cybersecurity and coding while supporting the incredible work of CodePath and Hack the Hood."
"We are truly honored to have the support of Okta and SentinelOne, who are using their platform, resources, and influence to uplift organizations like Hack the Hood. Through the Pitch for Charity event, they are not just advancing our mission but also creating opportunities that transform lives. Their generosity and dedication remind us of the incredible impact we can achieve together for the next generation of tech leaders," said Samia Zuber, Executive Director at Hack the Hood.
"At CodePath, we are deeply grateful for the generous donations from Okta and SentinelOne, which will play a pivotal role in supporting our mission to empower the next generation of software engineers and cybersecurity professionals. As the demand for skilled cybersecurity experts continues to rise, these contributions will help us provide world-class training and real-world expertise to prepare students for the challenges of securing tomorrow’s future," said Michael Ellison, CEO of CodePath.
The startups that will be pitching at the event will be selected via an esteemed Selection Committee which includes: Chris Castaldo, CISO at Crossbeam, Anne Marie Zettlemoyer, VP of Cybersecurity at Activision, Kirsten Davies, Founder at Institute for Cyber Civics, Sam Curry, Global VP, CISO at Zscaler, Brian Markham, CISO at EAB, Swathi Joshi, VP, SaaS Cloud Security at Oracle, Alex Stamos, CISO at SentinelOne, David Bradbury, CISO at Okta, Kathy Wang, CISO at KNW Group, Ashley Nuckols, CISO at Formstack, Nick Vigier CISO at Oscar Health, and Mike Benjamin, Cybersecurity CTO at Capital One.
Seats are limited for this exclusive event. For more information or to RSVP as a security leader to attend or nominate your startup to pitch, please contact pitchforcharityinfo@okta.com.
About Security Tinkerers:
Security Tinkerers is a community-driven group dedicated to fostering innovation and collaboration among cybersecurity leaders. Through events, workshops, and partnerships, Security Tinkerers bridges the gap between emerging technology and meaningful social impact.
About Okta
Okta, Inc. is The World’s Identity Company™. We secure Identity, so everyone is free to safely use any technology. Our customer and workforce solutions empower businesses and developers to use the power of Identity to drive security, efficiencies, and success — all while protecting their users, employees, and partners. Learn why the world’s leading brands trust Okta for authentication, authorization, and more at okta.com.
About SentinelOne
SentinelOne is a leading AI-powered cybersecurity platform. Built on the first unified Data Lake, SentinelOne empowers the world to run securely by creating intelligent, data-driven systems that think for themselves, stay ahead of complexity and risk, and evolve on their own. Leading organizations—including Fortune 10, Fortune 500, and Global 2000 companies, as well as prominent governments—trust SentinelOne to Secure Tomorrow™. Learn more at sentinelone.com.
About CodePath:
CodePath is transforming higher education to develop a more diverse generation of engineers, CTOs, and founders. They provide industry-vetted courses and career support tailored to the needs of Black, Latino/a, Indigenous, and low-income students. With 30,000 alumni from 700 colleges now working at 2,000 companies, CodePath is reshaping the tech workforce and industries of the future. In 2024, Fast Company recognized CodePath as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies.
About Hack the Hood:
Hack the Hood provides Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and AAPI youth, ages 16-25, with tech skill-building programs and career navigation support grounded in justice and focused on economic development and growth. The organization serves young people interested in pursuing tech-related careers but who do not yet have access to the resources they need to succeed.
