Brightmind Partners seeks $250 million for second cyber fund
Former agent turned VC Stephen Ward seeks $250 million for cybersecurity and AI startups after a high-profile career.
(Dimitri Mais)
Brightmind Partners, a New York-based venture capital firm, is currently raising its second fund with a target of approximately $250 million. The firm, which focuses on early-stage cybersecurity and artificial intelligence startups, intends to allocate roughly 20% of the new capital specifically toward AI infrastructure investments.
The firm is led by Stephen Ward, who serves as the managing partner and sole general partner. Ward, a former U.S. Secret Service agent and former chief information security officer at The Home Depot and TIAA, founded the firm two years ago. His professional background includes investigating cybercrime and working in corporate security leadership roles.
This fundraising effort follows the closure of the firm's debut fund, which totaled $251 million. Earlier this year, the firm experienced a significant exit when CrowdStrike acquired its portfolio company SGNL for $740 million in January 2026.
The firm is currently undergoing a leadership transition following the departure of co-founder Gur Talpaz and another early colleague in April 2026. Ward is now rebuilding the team as he moves forward with the new fund, maintaining an investment philosophy he describes as needing to sell on the way up.