SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ballistic Ventures, the venture capital firm dedicated exclusively to funding and incubating entrepreneurs and innovations in cybersecurity, today announced Julie Tsai has joined the firm as its newest CISO-in-Residence. A seasoned cybersecurity leader with more than 20 years of experience driving security and engineering excellence across Silicon Valley, Tsai brings deep expertise in building modern, resilient security programs and guiding organizations through transformative growth.
Tsai is a versatile chief information security officer (CISO) who has held senior security leadership roles at companies including Roblox, Box, and Walmart, spanning the full spectrum from lean startups to Fortune 1 enterprises. Her career has been built on a foundation in full-stack technology, including system administration, network architecture, site reliability engineering, and application development, giving her a rare depth of technical expertise. She is recognized for her work in DevSecOps, modern security architecture, organizational design, and fostering inclusive security cultures that empower both businesses and people.
“Julie represents what it means to be a modern CISO: technically adept, strategically visionary, and passionate about using security as a force for good,” said Roger Thornton, Co-founder and General Partner at Ballistic Ventures. “Her experience will provide tremendous value to our portfolio companies as they work to scale securely and align their solutions with the evolving priorities of today’s security leaders.”
As CISO-in-Residence, Tsai will advise Ballistic portfolio companies on product security, engineering integration, and go-to-market strategies that resonate with CISOs and security teams. She will also help founders anticipate and navigate the challenges of building security solutions in a rapidly changing landscape.
Throughout her career, Tsai has been recognized as an “IT Security Woman to Watch” by SC Magazine and named a Top 10 California CISO in 2024 by VPNRanks. She frequently speaks at leading industry conferences on topics such as microservices security, cloud transformation, and career development in cybersecurity. Beyond her professional achievements, she is a passionate advocate for civil liberties, open technologies, and advancing security as a positive force in society.
“Ballistic has built an unparalleled platform for supporting founders in cybersecurity,” said Tsai. “I’m thrilled to join this team and help entrepreneurs bridge technical rigor with strategic vision so that they can deliver solutions that truly strengthen organizations and protect people.”
Tsai’s appointment underscores Ballistic’s commitment to surrounding founders with the industry’s most accomplished operators, executives, and domain experts to accelerate their path to success. Learn more about the team at ballisticventures.com/team.
About Ballistic Ventures
Ballistic Ventures is a venture capital firm solely dedicated to early-stage cybersecurity and cyber-related companies. The partners have spent their entire careers defending against every cyber threat conceivable. Members of the firm have founded, operated, and funded over 100 successful cybersecurity firms – including Abnormal Security, AlienVault, ArcSight, Fortify, Mandiant, and Shape Security – led over 10,000 security professionals globally, and have 40+ years of experience in venture capital. The Ballistic portfolio includes Aembit, Alethea, ArmorCode, AuthMind, BreachRx, Codezero, Concentric AI, GetReal, Gomboc AI, Hypernative, Mimic, Noma, Nudge Security, Oligo, Pangea, Perygee, Reach, Reveal Technology, Root Evidence, SpecterOps, Talon (PANW), Veza, WitnessAI, and Zip Security. Our experience provides entrepreneurs impactful support from people focused on the same mission. Our networks and relationships open doors for our founders. Learn more at ballisticventures.com.
SOURCE Ballistic Ventures