Ryan Permeh
OPERATING PARTNER, SYN VENTURES
Operating Partner, SYN Ventures | Advisor at Cranium
Ryan Permeh is a seasoned cybersecurity expert, investor, and technologist with more than 20 years of experience at the forefront of security innovation. He brings deep technical expertise and strategic insight into the challenges of securing complex digital environments — from traditional systems and networks to emerging AI-driven infrastructures.
Ryan is currently an Operating Partner at SYN Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on backing disruptive cybersecurity and data-centric technologies. In this role, he helps identify and support the next generation of security entrepreneurs, with a particular emphasis on technologies that redefine how organizations mitigate risk, protect data, and secure digital operations.
Prior to his work in venture capital, Ryan co-founded Cylance, a security company that pioneered the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence to endpoint protection. As Chief Scientist and architect of Cylance’s mathematical engine, Ryan helped design the core technology that enabled proactive threat prevention and fundamentally changed how the industry approaches anti-malware solutions. Cylance’s success culminated in its acquisition by BlackBerry for $1.4 billion in 2019.
Before co-founding Cylance, Ryan held senior technical leadership roles at major cybersecurity firms. He served as Chief Scientist at McAfee, where he focused on technology strategy and innovation, and as a Distinguished Engineer at eEye Digital Security, where he helped build advanced security assessment tools.
Ryan’s contributions to the field include published research, technical papers, and patents in both offensive and defensive security domains. He is also recognized for his early analysis of significant threats such as the Code Red computer worm, reflecting his deep understanding of real-world adversarial behavior and defensive strategy.
In addition to his professional leadership, Ryan serves on advisory boards and invests in companies advancing AI, security, and data trust technologies. His career bridges cutting-edge research, entrepreneurial innovation, and strategic investment — making him a respected voice in cybersecurity and AI risk management.