Tortuga Logic, Inc. is a cybersecurity startup, founded by 4 PhD level computer scientists, that provides software and services to uncover security vulnerabilities in semiconductor designs. Since its inception, Tortuga Logic has successfully transferred and commercialized security technology out of University of California, San Diego and University of California, Santa Barbara. Shortly after launching the company, Tortuga Logic was awarded a National Science Foundation Phase 1 SBIR grant. Following reception of this grant, Tortuga Logic was accepted into the prestigious EvoNexus technology incubator in San Diego, CA. While at EvoNexus, Tortuga Logic completed their first commercial product and garnered clients in the Semiconductor and Aerospace/Defense sectors. Next, Tortuga Logic raised a seed round in the amount of $750,000 and was successfully awarded an NSF Phase 2 SBIR grant. Following their seed round, Tortuga Logic released new services and software packages that they continue to serve their clients with. Tortuga Logic was fortunate enough to be nominated at a finalist in the Connect 2015 Most Innovative Product Awards. To date, Tortuga Logic has 3 patents (with 1 in the pipeline), $2M in funding, 8 employees, and customers in several different sectors.
How we are different
-Tortuga Logic is commercializing award-winning technology from UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara that allows hardware designers to uncover security vulnerabilities in their semiconductor designs. This technology is unique, as it finds security vulnerabilities across all of the stages of a hardware design. This has never been done before, as most cybersecurity solutions focus on assembled systems or software layers of the stack.
-Tortuga Logic has received government funding from the National Science Foundation several times in the form of SBIR grants, with additional funds on their way
-Tortuga Logic was able to realize commercial revenue before any investment was made into the company.
About this category: Best Cybersecurity Startup
The Cybersecurity Excellence Awards recognize young cybersecurity companies with early proof that their product or service works. There is no limit on age or funding: any company that considers itself a startup can enter.
An independent jury of security practitioners, analysts and CISOs scores each nomination on leadership, innovation and impact. Each nomination competes in its category against organizations of similar size and region. Entry packages, sponsorship and public votes do not affect the jury's scores.
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2027 award season
Nominations closeFebruary 27, 2027
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Community Choice voting closesJuly 10, 2027
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Also nominated in Best Cybersecurity Startup, 2017
