Venture with Grace Ernie Bio, Forgepoint MD on Cybersecurity, Defense Tech & AI
Nov 14, 2025
In this discussion, Ernie Bio, Managing Director at ForgePoint Capital, shares his journey from Air Force fighter pilot to a leader in cybersecurity investments. He dives into the complexities of security sales and why trust is paramount in the industry. Ernie highlights two major trends: securing AI and utilizing AI to enhance cybersecurity. He reflects on the importance of first-mover advantage and the evaluation process for startups in the security domain, underscoring key traits that make founders successful in this rapidly evolving field.
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Episode notes
Active, Board-Led Series A Strategy
- Forgepoint targets Series A/B security startups and writes $10–20M checks while taking board seats to actively help build companies.
- They reserve follow-on capital and treat investing as company-building, not passive stock picking.
Two Parallel AI Security Fronts
- Two security trends dominate: security FOR AI (governance) and AI IN security (automation and product reinvention).
- Both categories are rapidly evolving and attracting acquisitions and exits.
Use AI And Platforms To Counter Smarter Adversaries
- Expect motivated adversaries and an expanding attack surface; defenders must use AI to keep pace.
- Prioritize platforms where possible but adopt point solutions for time-critical problems.
