BNY Announces 2025 Ascent Program Graduates, Driving Innovation in AI and Cybersecurity
BNY today announced the graduation of five pioneering startups from its 2025 Ascent Program, a structured proof-of-concept (POC) platform designed to help early-stage companies validate emerging technologies in real-world financial services environments.
Led by BNY’s Strategic Partnerships, Investments & Innovation (SPIN) team, the Ascent Program connects promising startups with business and technology leaders across the firm. Over six months, participating companies gain access to rigorous testing environments, direct feedback, and mentorship to accelerate product development and market readiness.
This year’s cohort focused on high-impact solutions across AI governance, cyber defense, market intelligence, and operational risk.
2025 Cohort Highlights
- Protect AI – Recently announced its pending acquisition by Palo Alto Networks. Protect AI delivers enterprise-grade AI security through real-time threat prevention and vulnerability scanning for AI systems.
- Calypso AI – Offers full-lifecycle AI security through red teaming and defensive tools, enabling organizations to safely develop and deploy AI applications and agents.
- Reality Defender – A leader in synthetic media risk mitigation, providing an API-based deepfake detection platform that identifies and addresses AI-generated impersonation fraud.
- AgentSmyth – Powers real-time investment intelligence for institutional traders using autonomous AI agents and decision-support tools.
- Deep Tempo – Specializes in predictive cybersecurity, using proprietary deep learning models to detect and prevent emerging cyber threats before they occur.
“We are thrilled to support some of the most innovative companies shaping the future of financial technology,” said Marianna Lopert-Schaye, Global Head of Strategic Partnerships, Investments & Innovation at BNY. “The Ascent Program is uniquely positioned to help startups validate and scale their solutions with real institutional input—while enabling BNY to stay ahead of the curve and champion responsible innovation.”
The Ascent Program exemplifies BNY’s commitment to fostering innovation both within the firm and across the broader fintech ecosystem. By partnering with startups at critical growth stages, BNY aims to accelerate the adoption of secure, scalable technologies that can transform financial markets globally.
About BNY
BNY (The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation) is a global financial services company helping to manage, move, and safeguard money worldwide. For over 240 years, BNY has supported clients in achieving their goals through its expertise and trusted platforms. As of March 31, 2025, the firm manages $53.1 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration and $2.0 trillion in assets under management.
Serving more than 90% of Fortune 100 companies and nearly all of the top 100 global banks, BNY also partners with governments, pension plans, and institutional investors around the world. Headquartered in New York City, BNY is listed on the NYSE under the ticker BK and has been recognized by Fortune and Fast Company for its workplace innovation and leadership.
