Bastazo receives $1 million, completes HF0 residency program
by February 6, 2025 11:35 am 311 views
Bastazo, a Bentonville-based software development startup, recently completed HF0 Residency, an accelerator based in San Francisco for artificial intelligence-focused startups.
The startup received $1 million when it was accepted into the accelerator, backed by the Sloan Foundation, Google’s AI Fund, Marc Andreessen, and other venture capital firms.
According to a news release, the achievement helped the startup sharpen the focus of its mission, which is to help chief information security officers (CISOs) resolve technology vulnerabilities without adding additional staff. Bastazo is an AI-powered cybersecurity platform focused on operational technology remediation.
The accelerator comprised a three-month residency program in San Francisco for 10 startups selected from 10,000 applicants. The program allowed Bastazo’s chief technology officer Kylie McClanahan and CEO Mauricio Iglesias to focus on product development, hiring, and networking. During the residency, Bastazo participated in Demo Day, presenting to investors, including Sequoia Capital, Accel, Redpoint Ventures, and CRV. The startup also completed a user interface redesign, enhanced features, and prepared for a product launch in February 2025.
“HF0 gave us the clarity and space needed to think strategically and truly innovate,” McClanahan said. “We refined how we help CISOs turn vulnerabilities into actionable, efficient remediation plans tailored to their unique networks.”
Bastazo aims to grow its engineering team and leverage HF0’s network for fundraising and partnerships. The startup has about 20 staff. It was founded in 2020 by University of Arkansas faculty members and is based on licensed technology from a U.S. Department of Energy cybersecurity center at the UA.