The Venture Center’s 9th Annual JOLT Cyber Challenge: Mastering Cybersecurity in the Startup Arena
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (August 21, 2024) – The Venture Center announces the return of the JOLT Cyber Challenge for its ninth year. This event, which combines the social media realm with cutting-edge cybersecurity challenges, will take place from October 4th to 6th at the Jack Stephens Center on the University of Arkansas Little Rock campus.
Teams of four are now invited to sign up for the JOLT Cyber Challenge at venturecenter.co/JOLT. This year’s theme, “The 2024 Cyber Trial in a Startup World,” introduces the intense world of a social media startup facing the ultimate cybersecurity test.
Expected to host more than 175 participants, the JOLT Cyber Challenge is a leading workforce-development event for the state, supported by top-ranked companies, such as Apptegy, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and First Orion. It features challenges crafted by experts, including game maker Christopher Wright of Sullivan Wright Technologies.
“JOLT is a multi-day cybersecurity capture the flag competition. I like to joke that it’s a community networking event disguised as a competition. While there are overall winners, everyone will get something out of their participation,” said Wright. “You don’t have to be working in or studying cybersecurity to have a great time. Contrary to expectations, the folks with the most experience usually aren’t the ones who win.”
Frank M. Cuervo, Trojan Director of Athletics, added, “We are thrilled to serve as good community partners of The Venture Center’s JOLT Cyber Challenge at the Jack Stephens Center on the campus of UA Little Rock. We support opportunities to bring the best and brightest to our campus and are excited to host this world-renowned competition.”
Competitors can expect to grapple with challenges from web vulnerabilities, reverse engineering, code-breaking, and more. This year’s participation fee is $100 per team member ($80 for students), and early registrants will receive an exclusive JOLT T-shirt.
“JOLT is really dear to us—it bridges the gap between students and tech professionals and helps cultivate the tech talent sprouting up across Arkansas,” said Ashley Jones, Vice President of Programs and Operations for The Venture Center. “It truly reflects our commitment to growing the state’s tech ecosystem through innovative job-training programs.”
Visit venturecenter.co/JOLT for further details.
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About The Venture Center
The Venture Center is a globally recognized Arkansas-based Entrepreneurial Support Organization (ESO) that helps entrepreneurs turn their start-ups into viable, high-growth businesses. By leveraging the expertise of a world-class team of mentors, intensive programming, and introductions to the investor community, The Venture Center serves as an engine for economic growth in Arkansas and beyond. Learn more at www.venturecenter.co. Follow The Venture Center on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (@VentureCenter), and Instagram.