VIA Names Joe Babiec Chief Mission Officer to Champion Responsible Technology Across High-Stakes Sectors

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Babiec will help to accelerate VIA’s mission to secure data and AI for community safety, resilience, and prosperity.

Boston, MA – October 19, 2026  – VIA Science, Inc. (VIA), a leading software provider to defense, law enforcement, and humanitarian organizations, today announced the appointment of Joe Babiec as Chief Mission Officer. Babiec, who joined VIA in 2018 and was most recently VIA’s Chief Commercial Officer, will now lead efforts to accelerate VIA’s mission impact with its customers and the communities it serves.

As Chief Mission Officer, Babiec will accelerate VIA’s effectiveness both internally and externally. Internally, he will ensure VIA’s customer and partner decisions support the company’s mission to secure data and AI for community safety, resilience, and prosperity. Externally, Babiec will raise awareness of VIA’s impact as the company rapidly scales across the globe.

“Joe brings a rare combination of commercial and public policy experience along with an understanding of the consequences technologies can have for communities. He embodies a key VIA value of ‘respect a challenge and challenge with respect,” said Colin Gounden, co-founder and CEO of VIA. “This newly created role gives Joe the mandate to ensure we live up to our ‘no compromise’ ethos in the increasingly complex and volatile markets in which we operate. He will also help us convey the impact of our work to the policymakers, industry leaders, and the communities VIA supports.”

Babiec is excited to take on this leadership challenge. “I’ve been fortunate in my career to help many organizations align mission, strategy, and operations to achieve positive outcomes in the communities they serve. As VIA’s Chief Mission Officer, I’m grateful to be working in partnership with premier organizations to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges through the responsible use of artificial intelligence and other advanced digital technologies.”

Babiec has three decades of experience as a strategic advisor, an entrepreneur, an early-stage venture investor, and a private equity company board member. Babiec has worked extensively with senior corporate, government, non-profit, labor, media, and other stakeholders in the U.S. and globally. Joe is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the London School of Economics.

About VIA
Headquartered in Boston, VIA provides mission-critical software for secure data exchange and trustworthy AI without compromising speed, simplicity, or resilience. Its military-grade architecture helps defense, public safety agencies, and humanitarian organizations use AI while maintaining control of sensitive, distributed data even in contested or offline environments.

For media inquiries, contact:

TrailRunner
viascience@trailrunnerint.com

VIA Chief Mission Officer Joe Babiec to speak at Meridian in Lisbon

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VIA Chief Mission Officer Joe Babiec will speak at Meridian 2026, hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation at Convento do Beato in Lisbon, Portugal. The conference brings together leaders across global fintech, payments, and financial technology.

During the event, Joe will share how VIA’s secure technology is used to address key challenges across humanitarian aid, financial systems, and intelligence operations.

👉 Attending Meridian on October 28–29? Register for the event here, and connect directly with Joe on LinkedIn.

VIA hosts invite-only lunch on correctional intelligence in Zürich

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VIA is hosting an exclusive, invite-only expert lunch in Zürich exploring how law enforcement and correctional agencies disrupt multi-state criminal networks. Held in an intimate setting for senior public security leaders, the presentation examines how agencies turn fragmented, siloed data into actionable threat intelligence without surrendering security or control.

VIA Chief Mission Officer, Joe Babiec, will share real-world insights on how U.S. state agencies use AI and advanced data analytics to reveal hidden connections across prison, state, and local records. Designed for senior representatives across corrections, justice, and law enforcement, this session delivers a practical framework for intelligence-led policing across jurisdictions.

👉 Attending the event or in Zürich on November 3? Connect directly with Joe Babiec or Alexander Brunner on LinkedIn to request an invitation or schedule a conversation.

VIA’s Stan Byers to speak at ConV2X Symposium in Cambridge

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VIA’s VP of Business Development and Transformation Stan Byers will speak at the upcoming ConV2X Symposium at The Foundry in Cambridge, MA. The event brings together healthcare leaders, policymakers, and researchers to discuss AI and data security in global healthcare.

During his panel, Stan will share insights on navigating international regulations and safely adopting AI across highly regulated health markets.

👉 Register for the symposium here, and connect directly with Stan on LinkedIn to schedule time to meet during the event.

VIA’s Stan Byers to demonstrate VIA’s AI at Proof-of-Control launch event

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VIA’s VP of Business Development and Transformation Stan Byers will speak at “Who’s Watching the Machines? Launching Proof-of-Control,” a virtual summit hosted by the Advanced AI Society and Linux Foundation Decentralized Trust (LFDT). The event brings together security leaders, cryptographers, and policymakers to introduce an open verification standard for AI agents.

During the session, Stan will deliver a live demonstration of SLAM AI, showcasing how teams can collaborate and analyze sensitive data in a secure workspace without sharing underlying data.

👉 Register for the virtual session here to receive your Zoom link, and connect directly with Stan on LinkedIn to learn more.

VIA Strategic Advisor Jakob Bosshard to attend TOKEN2049 in Singapore

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VIA Strategic Advisor Jakob Bosshard will be in Singapore from October 5–9 for TOKEN2049, taking place at Marina Bay Sands. Recognized as the world’s largest crypto event gathering, the conference brings together founders and leaders from across global markets.

Throughout the week, Jakob will meet with international partners and clients to explore new opportunities for VIA across digital payments, security, and humanitarian aid.

👉 Attending TOKEN2049 or in Singapore October 5–9? Grab your tickets here, and connect directly with Jakob on LinkedIn to schedule a meeting.

VIA convenes financial leaders on zero trust cyber strategy in Zürich

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VIA is hosting an exclusive, invitation-only lunch in Zürich focused on how financial institutions can counter the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-powered cyber threats. Held as a private expert exchange for senior leaders in Swiss financial services, cybersecurity, and technology, the discussion examines how shift-left strategies and Zero Trust architectures protect sensitive data, identities, and critical infrastructure when networks and devices can no longer be inherently trusted.

The session will be led by Joe Babiec, VIA’s Chief Mission Officer, drawing on real-world experience working with U.S. defense and intelligence organizations to share how high-security environments respond to automated attacks, deepfakes, and AI-enabled social engineering. Designed for bank executives and security leaders, this session translates military-grade data protection and Zero Trust principles into practical strategies for modern financial institutions.

👉 Attending the event or in Zürich on November 4? Connect directly with Joe Babiec or Alexander Brunner on LinkedIn to request an invitation or schedule a conversation.

VIA powers up Spookstock 2026 in Washington, DC

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VIA is proud to support Spookstock 2026 as the Portable Charger Sponsor, keeping national security leaders connected and charged throughout the night. Set in the heart of Washington, DC, this premier gathering brings together key decision-makers across the intelligence community, military, and defense sector for an evening dedicated to networking, entertainment, and philanthropy.

Beyond its mission-driven cause, Spookstock 2026 features a headlining musical performance by the Goo Goo Dolls. It is an ideal setting to build meaningful relationships with peers who are solving the nation’s toughest defense, security, and technology challenges.

👉 Attending Spookstock this year? Connect directly with Colin on LinkedIn to schedule a conversation or grab a charger during the event.

VIA Hires Former Qualtrics Federal Business Leader Emilee Lehenbauer to Accelerate Growth

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Lehenbauer will lead VIA’s go-to-market strategy as the company expands across the federal market

Boston, MA – September 22, 2026  – VIA Science, Inc. (VIA), a leading mission-critical software provider, announced today the appointment of Emilee Lehenbauer as Senior Vice President, Public Sector, based in Washington, D.C. Lehenbauer joins VIA from Qualtrics, where she led the federal business, helping agencies modernize service delivery through AI. She brings more than a decade of experience in federal sales, customer experience, and digital transformation.

VIA’s unique combination of intuitive, ultra-secure AI, distributed ledger auditing, and post-quantum encryption allows organizations across government to share and analyze sensitive, distributed data without compromising security or control. Designed for simplicity and rapid deployment, VIA makes data usable wherever the mission happens, even offline or in contested environments. Lehenbauer’s appointment comes as VIA builds on its existing government work, including six years with the United States Air Force, to accelerate its growth across the defense, federal, critical infrastructure, and public safety markets.

“VIA has proven that its technology can meet the security and operational needs of the most mission-critical organizations in government, and we are experiencing increased demand across agencies,” said Colin Gounden, co-founder and CEO of VIA. “Coming from a multi-billion dollar company, Emilee knows how to oversee and scale a team that serves the public sector. She understands what government customers need, how they buy, and how to communicate the value of new technology in a way that resonates with them.”

In her role, Lehenbauer will lead VIA’s strategy to expand the adoption of its technology across government agencies and demonstrate how VIA can address U.S. federal, state, and local customers’ needs, while solving data sovereignty and operational challenges.

“Government agencies shouldn’t have to choose between putting their data to work and maintaining control of it,” said Lehenbauer. “That’s what attracted me to VIA. Its decentralized architecture keeps data sovereign, giving government customers a fundamentally different way, compared to other AI platforms, to use sensitive data safely across disconnected sources to power intelligence and automation. I’m excited to bring that capability to more agencies across federal, state, and local governments.”

Lehenbauer also served for five years as Director of Business Development at the United Service Organizations (USO), a nonprofit that provides programs and services to U.S. service members and their families worldwide.

About VIA
Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, VIA is a mission-critical software company that enables organizations to share and analyze sensitive, distributed data at speed without compromising security or control. VIA’s decentralized architecture keeps data sovereign, while its agentic AI helps organizations solve critical challenges, and its military-grade security governs access. Designed for simplicity, rapid deployment, and disconnected, contested environments, VIA makes sensitive data usable wherever the mission happens, even offline. The Department of War, federal and state law enforcement, Fortune 50, and critical infrastructure companies around the globe trust VIA to help them solve their toughest analytics and digital security challenges.

For media inquiries, contact:

TrailRunner
viascience@trailrunnerint.com

VIA joins critical conversations on modernizing global humanitarian aid at UNGA

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VIA’s Senior Humanitarian Assistance Specialist, Samantha Warren, will represent VIA at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City during the week of September 21st. Bringing together global policymakers, international development leaders, and technology pioneers, these events focus on deploying secure digital infrastructure, AI, and financial inclusion frameworks to modernize international humanitarian assistance.

Samantha will participate in forums, panel discussions, and receptions hosted by UNHCR, the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC), PwC, the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), UN Human Rights, and the American Red Cross. Throughout the week, Samantha will engage with global partners on how VIA’s digital payment architectures deliver support for  disaster relief and emergency aid distribution.

👉 Attending UNGA events or networking in New York? Connect directly with Samantha on LinkedIn or drop us a note to schedule a conversation.

VIA named official Platinum Paw Sponsor for 2026 ADOC K-9 tracking competition

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VIA is heading to Lake Martin as a Platinum Paw Sponsor for the 2026 Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) K-9 Tracking Competition, held September 29 through October 2 at Children’s Harbor in Eclectic, AL. Hosted in partnership with the Alabama Correctional Employee Support Fund (ACESF), this event brings together elite K-9 teams, corrections leaders, and law enforcement agencies from across the Southeast to showcase operational excellence, agility, and teamwork in the field.

We’re proud to support the hard-working four-legged officers who safeguard institutional facilities and surrounding communities. VIA’s Criminal Investigation Analyst, Haley Hamm-Meadows, and Client Delivery Lead, Hank Nelson, will lead interactive demonstrations of VIA’s AI-powered corrections intelligence platform in the exhibit area of the event each day. 

👉 Attending the competition? Reach out directly to Haley and Hank on LinkedIn to schedule time to meet during the competition!

VIA named official sponsor for inaugural New York National Security Forum event in NYC

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VIA is pleased to sponsor the networking reception on Monday, September 28th, for the inaugural New York National Security Forum. Taking place in Midtown Manhattan at Apella, this exclusive, invitation-only event marks the launch of a premier annual platform designed to bridge government needs, industry innovation, and capital deployment across the New York and New England defense tech and dual-use ecosystems.

Beyond traditional keynotes, the two-day event features targeted, curated matchmaking sessions designed to align immediate, high-priority military operational needs with deployable technical solutions. Key government delegations in attendance include executives and leaders from the U.S. Navy, USMC, and other strategic national security entities.

👉 Attending the New York National Security Forum? Connect directly with Colin on LinkedIn to schedule a conversation.

VIA invited to join exclusive payments and commerce advisory committee event in NYC

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VIA has been invited to join an exclusive, closed-door event with a small number of senior executives, investors, and founders from across the digital ecosystem. The committee, hosted by Prove, serves as a premier forum for defining the future of global digital trust. 

The session, titled “The New Rules of Trust: Payments in an AI-Driven World,” will be attended by VIA’s Vice President of Business Development and Transformation, Stan Byers, who will contribute to the discussion surrounding the critical friction around trust, fraud mitigation, and transactional infrastructure as agentic AI reshapes financial systems.

👉 Attending Prove’s Payments & Commerce Advisory Committee or networking in New York? Contact Stan or drop us a note to schedule a conversation.

VIA’s Stan Byers selected as expert panelist on agentic identity webinar hosted by Vouched

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Stan Byers, VIA’s Vice President of Business Development and Transformation, will serve on a  panel for the upcoming webinar, “Cryptographic Proof of Identity & Delegation: General Session” (also known as “Agentic Identity for Everyone Else”), hosted by digital identity verification company, Vouched. Joining Vouched leadership, Stan will address the critical identity, governance, and security challenges organizations face as AI agents scale across enterprise environments.

Stan will share high-level insights on evaluating agentic traffic patterns, architecting decentralized data environments, and deploying cryptographic trust to guarantee AI agents operate with verifiable authority. 

👉 Register for the virtual session on Vouched’s website and connect directly with Stan on LinkedIn to discuss agentic identity architectures.

25 and counting: a new innovation milestone at VIA

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VIA was just awarded its 25th patent.

One of our core values is learning never goes out of style. But, learning only matters if it turns into real technology.

Reaching 25 patents gives us a second to look back at what we’ve built. Our IP portfolio covers years of fixing broken systems alongside our partners in government and defense.

Most patents end up just being administrative paperwork. We have built our patented technology to solve specific, messy problems directly encountered in the field:

  • Designing for human reality: Systems shouldn’t force users into weird mental models or create single points of failure
  • Protecting critical assets without sacrificing speed: Security protocols, whether Web3, zero-knowledge, or post-quantum, have to fit right into real-world workflows
  • Building for long-term resilience: Infrastructure needs to stay secure as threats change, without slowing anyone down

Patent #25 expands our ability to deliver tamper-proof security without getting in the way of operators.

This milestone belongs to our engineers, designers, advisors, and partners. They’re the ones who refuse to choose between security and usability.

Reaching 25 isn’t a finish line. It’s proof that decentralized, human-centered security works.