Winners of the second global Shield in the Cloud anti-corruption innovation challenge will be revealed at the event on the 20th March
C5 also announces that Derek Maltz is to join the Challenge’s prestigious judging panel
London, 12 February 2019 – C5, the specialist venture capital firm focused on investing in cybersecurity, cloud and artificial intelligence, has announced that Preet Bharara, former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, will be the keynote speaker at the gala dinner announcing the winner of C5’s annual Shield in the Cloud, the global anti-corruption innovation challenge. The dinner will be held on the 20th March 2019 in Washington D.C.
Preet served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from August 2009 to March 2017. During his tenure, he was responsible for a series of significant and systemically revelatory public corruption cases against members of New York City and State governments. Bharara is now a Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the New York University Law faculty, and his forthcoming book, “Doing Justice: A Prosecutor’s Thoughts on Crime, Punishment, and the Rule of Law” is due to be released on the 19th March, 2019. At the dinner, he will engage the audience in a conversation around the need to push for greater transparency across businesses and governments, and why the rule of law is essential to our society, based on his experience in fighting corruption.
Preet Bharara said; “Corruption is a global issue that affects all of us in some way, whether or not we even realize it. Whether it be corruption in the supply chains that bring us our food, or on a grander scale in governments around the world, this issue is not going away. Technology and a greater awareness of the challenges are key weapons in our fight to combat corruption and it’s competitions such as C5’s Shield in the Cloud that are helping to provide a platform for companies and organizations of all shapes and sizes to work towards a corruption-free world. I’m pleased to have been invited to speak at the gala and wish all the entrants well.”
C5 has also announced that Derek Maltz, the former Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Special Operations Division (SOD) of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will be joining the Challenge’s prestigious judging panel. He will be tasked with identifying innovative solutions that combat global, political and corporate corruption and promote good governance. He joins an experienced group of legal, business and industry experts with expertise in national security, anti-corruption and innovation, including Lucinda Low, Kurt Scherer and Jay Collins and Andre Pienaar.
Andre Pienaar, Founder, C5 Capital said: “We are honored to have Preet Bahara as our keynote speaker. Preet is a global leader who has an unrivalled track record of innovating the fight against corruption and crime. It will be invaluable for our judging panel to have Derek Maltz’s insights. Derek is a fearless front-line leader whose intrepid team in the DEA takes down some of the most dangerous organized crime syndicates in the world.
Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the Chairman of the CLC said “In C5 we believe that US cloud innovation opens up new possibilities to combat corruption and to fight poverty, globally. The Shield in the Cloud competition identifies and supports innovation leaders who combat corruption, often against the odds. Our alumni welcome the new entrants as part of a global network to help build sustainable and just societies worldwide.”
Shield in the Cloud is an annual global anti-corruption innovation challenge designed to reward and recognize the leading and emerging startups that are harnessing the power of technology and innovation to fight corruption and improve transparency worldwide. The competition is now in its second year, and the winners will be announced at the dinner following Bharara’s speech.
Nominations for the Awards will close on 25th February and applications can be made here.
For press enquiries contact:
Emily Jones and Sheena Munsami at C5Capital@hudsonsandler.com or 0207 796 4133
About Shield in the Cloud
The Shield in the Cloud global anti-corruption innovation challenge is aligned with Goal 16 of the United Nations’ Global Sustainable Goal to promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies. This Goal seeks to hold institutions and governments accountable and transparent. It also aims to eliminate bribery and other forms of political and corporate corruption.
For more information on Shield in the
Cloud, please visit:
www.c5accelerate.com/shieldinthecloud