Emerging Technology
PR Newswire | July 31, 2023
NewSpring Holdings leverages proven organic growth strategies and a disciplined M&A process to accelerate growth in sector-specific markets, including logistics, fin-tech, government services, IT services, and sports. The team has completed over 40 acquisitions and successfully built a government services platform, Avantus Federal,which recently sold for$590M.NewSpring("the Firm"), a family of private equity strategies, announced today that NewSpring Holdings, the Firm's majority investment strategy focused on sector-specific platform builds, has acquiredBridge Core, a leading provider of visual intelligence, cybersecurity, and other technical solutions to the U.S. government intelligence community. Bridge Core will use the proceeds of this transaction to execute a disciplined M&A and aggressive organic growth strategy to create a full-spectrum, technology-enabled intelligence company.
Alongside this transaction, Chad Kim has been named CEO of Bridge Core. Chad has spent over two decades supporting the intelligence community and interagency task force apparatus in diverse worldwide roles spanning from operations to analysis. This has provided Chad with a unique breadth of experience, mission intimacy, and relevant capability expertise. He also has an extensive track record in scaling organizations capable of building industry-disrupting technology for defense, intelligence, and commercial clients, most recently with former NewSpring portfolio company Avantus Federal. Bridge Core founders Tyler Laverick and Andy Rackovan will stay on with the company in key leadership roles.
"In the creation of a full-spectrum intelligence company, we're proud to begin our journey with Bridge Core, a company whose values and culture are closely aligned with my own and the team at NewSpring," said Kim. "Bridge Core treats its team members like family, fosters a strong work ethic, and consistently delivers mission impact in a nurturing environment that attracts and retains the best talent in the industry. Tyler and Andy have built an amazing company filled with savvy technologists and intelligence professionals, and we're thrilled to continue growing this business alongside them."
Bridge Core leverages a unique tech-to-mission concept, agility, and speed in delivering services that drive true value for its intelligence agency clients. Established expertise in visual intelligence, technology transfer, cybersecurity, and technical operations positions Bridge Core well to add on additional services and expand into a full-service agency serving a broad range of needs facing the intelligence community.
"An era of rapidly proliferating and converging data presents unique, evolving challenges for the intelligence community. More than ever, we see the crucial role of a holistic solutions partner capable of elevating the transformation of data into precise and impactful insights for the numerous mission sets of the U.S. government.," said NewSpring General Partner Lee Garber. "Our partnership with Bridge Core, a true market leader, aligns with our core vision to innovate within the national security space, where there is significant growth potential. Combined with Chad's leadership and extensive experience delivering mission outcomes with technology in the intelligence community, we're excited for the future of this business."
"In 2015, Andy and I set out to build a company focused on empowering and fostering a transparent culture, giving everyone a seat at the table to define our success," said Bridge Core Cofounder Tyler Laverick. "Eight years later, we realized it was time to join forces with a team that embodied what we built at Bridge Core and have found the perfect partner in NewSpring to help scale this business and further raise our impact on critical intelligence missions. We're excited about this new era for Bridge Core and look forward to taking this business to the next level."
About NewSpring
NewSpring partners with the innovators, makers, and operators of high-performing companies in dynamic industries to catalyze new growth and seize compelling opportunities. The Firm manages over $3.0 billion across five distinct strategies covering the spectrum from growth equity and control buyouts to mezzanine debt. Having invested in over 200 companies, NewSpring brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and resources to take growing companies to the next level and beyond. Partnering with management teams to help develop their businesses into market leaders, NewSpring identifies opportunities and builds relationships using its network of industry leaders and influencers across a wide array of operational areas and industries. To learn more, visit www.newspringcapital.com.
About Bridge Core
Bridge Core is a federal services company built on a culture of trust and teamwork to advance the mission through innovation and passionate people. The Bridge Core team of experts enable Mission Partners by integrating innovative technologies and implementing processes that modernize the digital workplace. The Company's trusted, skilled, and diverse team members make a lasting impact by building tailored, client-focused solutions within secured spaces. The Bridge Core team facilitates the rapid adoption of technologies and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions through a unique understanding of mission requirements and the vendor's product(s).
Read More
Government Business
PR Newswire | July 05, 2023
DroneShield Ltd has been awarded a follow-on 2-year R&D contract with a total value of $9.9 million by a Five Eyes Department of Defence (DoD). Approximately $4.5 million is due in the September and December 2023 quarters. Five Eyes refers to the defence/intelligence alliance between the US, Canada, UK, Australia and NZ.
The award follows DroneShield materially completing the $3.8 million contract announced 4 June 2021 with the DoD, with a final milestone payment expected this month.
Oleg Vornik, DroneShield's CEO, commented, "Follow-on contracts are the ultimate customer measure of our performance. As an Australian sovereign industrial capability business, DroneShield is proud and pleased to continue undertaking multi-year contracts of increasing size with this customer."
"This is the largest long-term contract received by DroneShield to date, significantly larger than the earlier, $3.8 million contract. The 2-year term locks in cash receipts over a period of time. Further larger contracts are anticipated following completion of this phase."
"In the current uncertain geopolitical environment, there is a significant focus by the Five Eyes Governments to procure from defence industrial capability champions within their network of countries. Having deep engineering and research capability, TRL9 products and a track record of working with Defence, places DroneShield in a favourable position for ongoing work."
Operational Update
Following a strong $7 million cash receipts 1Q23 quarter, DroneShield is on track for an all-time record 2Q23 quarter and continuing on a trajectory for another record year for cash receipts in 2023. Further detail will be provided in the next 4C quarterly, due to be released later in July.
Significant progress on manufacturing, operations and inventory scale-up to support additional anticipated orders for remainder of 2023. DroneShield is currently finalizing the location for a larger industrial site to move its Sydney operations to enable the growth.
With the $11 million contract announced in December now fully delivered and paid for, DroneShield is progressing the inventory build of the second $11 million order announced in January, expected to be delivered later this year.
Current order book (committed and binding customer purchase orders) of approximately $29 million, an all-time record.
Over $200 million qualified opportunities pipeline (in addition to the order book), across approximately 80 projects.
Ongoing record demand for counterdrone / C-UAS equipment, underscored by the events in Ukraine and increasing defence and security budgets globally.
In addition to military and intelligence communities, significant engagement with critical infrastructure plants, airports and other civilian customers.
About DroneShield Limited
DroneShield provides Artificial Intelligence powered platforms for protection against advanced threats such as drones and autonomous systems. We offer customers custom counterdrone (or counter-UAS) solutions and off-the-shelf products, designed to deliver highly effective capabilities for multiple missions and use cases. Our customers include military, government, law enforcement, critical infrastructure, and airports globally.
Read More
Cybersecurity
PR Newswire | September 01, 2023
Aquia Inc., a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) specializing in cloud and cybersecurity professional services, today announced it has been awarded a subcontract from Omni Federal to support its 3-year contract with the United States Department of Defense's (DoD's) Platform One Cloud Native Access Point (CNAP).
CNAP is a cloud-based enterprise security framework with a zero trust architecture core that enables collaboration across the DoD landscape. The solution allows for simplified access to Amazon Web Services (AWS) GovCloud (IL 2/4/5) environments through a device-based zero trust approach to access. The platform removes the need for additional Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), Non-Classified Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet) routing, and Defense Information Systems Agency Cloud Access Point (DISA CAP). It also enables the United States Air Force (USAF) to continue to advance its zero trust maturity, aligning with the cybersecurity executive order (EO) 14028 and federal and DoD zero trust strategies.
"We feel privileged to support Platform One's CNAP team as they spearhead the transformation of cybersecurity practices within the U.S. government," said Savannah Burke, associate security engineer, Aquia. "During my time at AWS, I provided guidance and technical insight on cloud best practices to enterprise customers, and I look forward to bringing that expertise to the United States Air Force."
This effort is one of several of Aquia's projects supporting Platform One services. Aquia also supports Platform One's Party Bus and Big Bang teams.
About Aquia Inc.
Aquia Inc. is a developer-centric company passionate about the intersection of security and velocity. We maintain a strong bias towards transformational work that disrupts the status quo — delivering elegant, modern solutions to cutting-edge cybersecurity problems.
Founded by military veterans in 2021, we are a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). Our team has decades of experience driving transformational change across the public sector, enterprise businesses, and top-tier technology companies.
Read More