Stephen Ward, a former U.S. Secret Service agent and former Chief Information Security Officer at Home Depot, is raising a second cybersecurity-focused venture fund totaling approximately $250 million through his firm, Brightmind Partners. The fund aims to invest in early- and growth-stage companies developing innovative security solutions, with a particular focus on protecting digital assets and infrastructure used by content creators and online businesses.

Ward’s background combines law enforcement expertise in cybercrime investigations with deep corporate security leadership, giving him a unique vantage point on evolving threats. His prior work included involvement in high-profile cases where he helped turn hackers into informants—a experience that informed his approach to proactive threat intelligence and defensive technology deployment.

Brightmind Partners’ new fund will target startups addressing risks such as account takeover, intellectual property theft, deepfake fraud, and platform-based scams—threats that disproportionately affect influencers, streamers, and digital entrepreneurs who rely on social media and monetized platforms for income. The fund does not disclose specific investment theses beyond its cybersecurity focus, but Ward’s track record suggests an emphasis on tools that combine behavioral analytics, AI-driven threat detection, and user-centric security design.

For creators, the rise of sophisticated cyberattacks means that personal brand security is no longer optional—it’s essential to business continuity. Ward’s fund signals growing investor confidence in cybersecurity as a vertical within the creator economy, where protection of digital identity, revenue streams, and audience trust is paramount. By backing founders building scalable defenses, Brightmind aims to fill a gap left by generic enterprise security products that often overlook the nuanced risks faced by independent creators.

While the fund is still in the fundraising phase, its target size reflects strong limited partner interest in niche security ventures led by operators with government and Fortune 500 security experience. As cyber threats grow more personalized and socially engineered, funds like Ward’s could play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of creator-focused security infrastructure. No exact closing date or LP names have been disclosed as of the announcement.