The Role of VC in Cybersecurity with Lucas Nelson (Lytical Ventures) and Dan Guido (Trail of Bits)

​Have a technical background and looking to break into VC? Interested in VC or Tech? Join us for a discussion on Startup and VC Opportunities in Cybersecurity Space with Dan Guido and Lucas Nelson.

​About the Speakers:

​Lucas Nelson (former Tandon Faculty) is Managing Director at Lytical Ventures and member of its investment committee. Along with Steve Berg, he oversees day-to-day fund operations. This includes deal sourcing, technical diligence and deal structuring. Lucas is also responsible for working with the companies in the investment portfolio (including any board responsibilities), as well as managing relationships with limited partners (including regularly reporting fund progress), the venture ecosystem and the back office.

​Dan Guido (former Tandon Faculty) is the CEO and co-founder of Trail of Bits, a cybersecurity firm that partners with high-stakes innovators to secure mission-critical technologies. Under his leadership since 2012, Trail of Bits has grown to over 100 elite engineers, with industry-defining practices in cryptography, AI, and blockchain security. The firm has been a finalist in DARPA’s Cyber Grand Challenge and AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC), exemplifying its expertise in automated security and AI-driven defenses. Committed to building the world’s best home for security researchers, Dan has fostered a company culture recognized among NYC’s Best Places to Work. In 2023, iVerify—a tool developed to combat mobile spyware—spun out as its own company, empowering users worldwide to secure their mobile devices and their privacy.

Dan is a sought-after advisor to startups, government agencies, and policymakers on matters related to technology and cybersecurity. He serves on the boards of three startups, and he actively shapes cybersecurity policy through collaborations with leading organizations like the Council on Foreign Relations, RAND Corporation, and Harvard University. As the founder of Empire Hacking, he has connected over 1,700 NYC cybersecurity experts, and he created AlgoVPN, a popular self-hosted VPN with over 28,000 stars on GitHub.

Dan holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from NYU Tandon, with a concentration in Information Assurance, and is currently enrolled in Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management program. In 2021, Dan was inducted into the prestigious Scholarship for Service (SFS) Hall of Fame by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), honoring his extensive contributions to the field. A pivotal role early in his career was as Hacker in Residence at NYU, where he helped establish and grow the university's cybersecurity program, advising students and launching initiatives that connected academia with industry needs. Dan continues to use his expertise to inspire future generations in the cybersecurity community.

​Prior to joining Lytical Ventures, Lucas was a Principal at Evolution Equity and a Principal at Gotham Ventures. Lucas was also a Venture Partner at Antecedent Ventures working as part of the investment team with Steve. Lucas has held operating positions at Adobe and a number of startups. Lucas holds an MBA from Dartmouth and a BS in computer science from Purdue University. He is also a Kauffman Fellow.

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​The NYU Entrepreneurial Institute provides reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. Requests for accommodations for events and services should be submitted at least two weeks before the date of the accommodation need. Please email zgb215@nyu.edu for assistance.

​NOTE: THIS EVENT IS ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT NYU STUDENTS, FACULTY, & STAFF. EACH ATTENDEE WILL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN IN WITH THEIR NYU ID CARD