Sphinx
Sphinx LLC provides AI-enabled counterintelligence, cybersecurity, and mission management platforms and services to U.S. Defense and Intelligence agencies, Defense Industrial Base primes, and Fortune 500 clients in critical infrastructure and financial services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersVirginia, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sphinx does
Sphinx LLC is a Virginia-based provider of AI-enabled counterintelligence, cybersecurity, and mission management platforms and professional services founded in 2018 by Special Operations, Intelligence, and Cyber Warfare professionals. The company serves U.S. Defense and Intelligence agencies — including the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) — alongside Defense Industrial Base primes and Fortune 500 clients in energy, critical infrastructure, and financial services, operating under FAR/DFARS, FedRAMP, and CMMC compliance regimes.
The company's technology portfolio is organized around three product families. The AxIS (Adaptive Intelligence and Security) enterprise platform is a four-layer mission management system (Orchestration, Integration, Management, Operations) with a CI-native data ontology and embedded AI agents; AxIS Counterintelligence is the first mission-specific implementation, purpose-built for CI commanders, agents, and analysts. The Evolved Security Playbook delivers professional services across four offerings: RECON (tiered security assessments), RedShift (adversary emulation against named threat actors), Helix (managed detection and response with embedded FACT team), and SWARM (strategy, wargaming, advisory, and modernization). MAX Factory bundles advanced solutions including the CORE suite for AI-enabled cyber operations and Advanced Adversary Defeat, which correlates cyber, physical, RF, and TEMPEST signals via Bayesian inference.
Sphinx generates revenue primarily through federal contract vehicles — GSA Multiple Award Schedule (47QTCA26D003L), OASIS+ (47QRCA25DSB94), DIA DLITE II (W911W417D0015), MDA SHIELD (HQ085926DF556, $151B program ceiling), and SeaPort Next Generation (N0017825D7847) — supplemented by AxIS platform licensing via CDAO's Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace and managed-service retainers under Helix. GTM is sales-led through enterprise field sales, demo requests, and scoping calls with cleared operators. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.
Sphinx firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sphinx
- Legal name
- Sphinx LLC
- Website
- https://sphinxsecure.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sphinx LLC provides AI-enabled counterintelligence, cybersecurity, and mission management platforms and services to U.S. Defense and Intelligence agencies, Defense Industrial Base primes, and Fortune 500 clients in critical infrastructure and financial services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sphinx industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defense & Intelligence Cybersecurity Services
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Other Computer Related Services (541519)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIP) (HDADAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Model Serving, Inference & Deployment Platforms (APIs, Edge/On-Prem) (HDAEANAC), Identity Threat Detection & Response (ITDR) (HDAEAJAH)
Keywords
Where Sphinx is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Virginia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Sphinx business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Federal Government Contracts: Primary revenue stream through multiple contract vehicles including GSA Multiple Award Schedule, MDA SHIELD IDIQ ($151B ceiling), DLITE II, OASIS+, and SeaPort Next Generation. Services span professional services, mission IT, Navy engineering, missile defense, and AI/ML. Revenue derived from FAR/DFARS compliant engagements with DoD, IC, and federal civilian agencies.
- AxIS Platform Licensing: SaaS/platform licensing of the AxIS (Adaptive Intelligence and Security) product line including AxIS Baseline, AxIS Counterintelligence, and upcoming extensions. Platform delivered as configurable COTS with USG-customized capabilities. Achievable through Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace for government procurement.
- SWARM Advisory Services: Strategy, Wargames, Advisory, Readiness, and Modernization (SWARM) services delivered by small teams of SMEs from Defense, Intelligence, and Cyber communities. Engagements scoped to specific mission outcomes: strategies for budget defense, adversary-aware wargames, acquisition advisory, readiness reviews, and modernization roadmaps.
- RedShift Adversary Emulation: Tiered adversary emulation engagements: RedShift RECON (Tier 1, 2-4 weeks, baseline emulation), RedShift STRIKE (Tier 2, 4-8 weeks, advanced simulation), and RedShift SIEGE (Tier 3, 8-16+ weeks, full-spectrum campaign with physical/supply chain components).
- Helix Managed Defense: Managed cyber protection across detection engineering, crown-jewels protection, and DFIR delivered as a single managed practice. Monthly retainer model with embedded operators and continuous defense posture management.
- RECON Security Assessments: Security posture assessments across three tiers: Essentials (3-5 weeks rapid baseline), Advanced (6-10 weeks deeper analysis with HVA), and Enterprise (10-16+ weeks full compliance alignment with strategic roadmap). Combines automated discovery, RVA methodology, and high-value asset analysis.
- Acquisition - Enigma International: Acquisition of Enigma International on July 14, 2025 adds linguist and engineering capabilities plus contract vehicles (GSA OASIS+, DIA DLITE II) for defense and intelligence clients. Expands service offerings to include cyber operations and exercises support including research, evaluation analysis, integration, and interpretation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | RECON Essentials: Rapid posture baseline for organizations needing clear attack surface picture fast |
| Other | Multi-year contract | RECON Advanced: Deeper vulnerability assessment and high-value asset analysis with stakeholder briefings |
| Other | Multi-year contract | RECON Enterprise: Full compliance alignment, strategic remediation roadmap, and executive-level reporting |
| Other | Multi-year contract | RedShift RECON (Tier 1): Baseline emulation emphasizing reconnaissance, OSINT collection, and initial access techniques - remote delivery |
| Other | Multi-year contract | RedShift STRIKE (Tier 2): Advanced simulation adding persistence, privilege escalation, and lateral movement exercises |
| Other | Multi-year contract | RedShift SIEGE (Tier 3): Full-spectrum adversary campaign with on-site team, physical access, supply chain vectors, and strategic objectives |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels6 records
Sphinx product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sphinx delivers AI-enabled cybersecurity and counterintelligence software and services for Defense & Intelligence, Homeland Security, and Fortune 500 clients. Its core offering centers on the AxIS (Adaptive Intelligence and Security) enterprise mission management platform, complemented by the Evolved Security Playbook service families (RECON, RedShift, Helix, SWARM) and MAX Factory solutions (Advanced Adversary Defeat and AI-Enabled Cyber Operations). The AxIS Baseline Platform provides the foundational four-layer architecture, while AxIS Counterintelligence is the mission-specific implementation for CI Commanders, Agents, Desk Officers, and Analysts.
Product overview
Sphinx offers a unified mission management architecture organized around three integrated product families: the AxIS (Adaptive Intelligence and Security) enterprise platform, the Evolved Security Playbook (ESP) services, and the MAX Factory solutions. The AxIS platform serves as the foundational mission management system with the AxIS Baseline Platform providing core capabilities and AxIS Counterintelligence as the primary mission-specific implementation. The Evolved Security Playbook delivers intelligence-driven cyber and security services through four integrated offerings: RECON for security assessment, RedShift for adversary emulation, Helix for managed detection and response, and SWARM for strategy and advisory. The MAX Factory delivers purpose-built solutions including Advanced Adversary Defeat and AI-Enabled Cyber Operations (featuring the CORE suite for detection engineering, forensic response, and ATT&CK posture at threat speed).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AxIS (Adaptive Intelligence and Security): Enterprise mission management platform for Defense and Intelligence clients and Fortune 500 companies, enabling comprehensive mission management across counterintelligence and other security domains.
- Evolved Security Playbook (ESP)
- MAX Factory
Products and services
- AxIS Baseline Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% reduction in forensic triage time (from days to hours with AI-augmented review)
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Sphinx
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sphinx technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability9 records
Feature8 records
Sphinx partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Enigma InternationalcoreSphinx acquired Enigma International on July 14, 2025. Enigma is a provider of professional and technical services to defense and intelligence clients focused on linguist and engineering support for military and law enforcement operations globally. Acquisition brings GSA OASIS+ and DIA DLITE II contract vehicles plus linguist and engineering capabilities. Technical services support cyber operations and exercises including research, evaluation analysis, integration, and interpretation.
- Parsons Government Services Inc.coreMentor in DoW Mentor-Protégé Program. Provided business development, technical, and programmatic support to Sphinx. Partnership resulted in Nunn-Perry Award recognition. Parsons grown OGSystems to 500+ employees prior to its acquisition in 2019.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sphinx competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Core4ce: Veteran-owned federal cyber and data analytics contractor serving DoD and IC customers with cyber, digital forensics, and mission IT — comparable in size, customer profile, and mission-driven go-to-market to Sphinx.
- Dark Wolf Technologies: Veteran-owned small business delivering software engineering, cyber, and mission solutions to DoD and IC customers — closely comparable in size, customer base, and focus on cleared operator-led delivery.
Broad incumbents
- Booz Allen Hamilton: Top-tier federal consulting prime with a dedicated Intelligence and Counterintelligence business serving DIA, NGA, and INSCOM — directly competes with Sphinx on CI mission services and AI-enabled intelligence modernization work.
- ECS Group (ASGN Federal): Federal IT and cyber services subsidiary of ASGN delivering advanced cybersecurity, AI/ML, and mission solutions to DoD, IC, and civilian agencies — competes with Sphinx on AI-enabled cyber operations and managed defense.
- Parsons Corporation: Large public defense prime and Sphinx's DoW Mentor-Protégé mentor; delivers federal intel, cyber, and missile defense solutions. Sphinx's leadership (Pagon, Martin, Aves) is largely ex-Parsons, making it both a competitor and the most likely strategic acquirer of Sphinx.
- Leidos: Top-tier federal prime with a large Intelligence Group serving DIA, NGA, INSCOM and other IC customers with mission IT, cyber, and counterintelligence solutions — competes with Sphinx on AI-enabled mission management deployments across IC accounts.
- SAIC: Major federal IT and engineering services prime delivering digital modernization, AI/ML, and mission solutions to IC, DoD, and federal civilian agencies — competes with Sphinx on AI-enabled defense modernization and platform deployments.
- Two Six Technologies: Privately held (Carlyle-backed) federal mission technology company delivering AI, cyber, and analytics solutions to IC, DoD, and civilian agencies — directly comparable to Sphinx in customer base, contract-vehicle model, and product breadth across intelligence and cyber missions.
Emerging players
- Shift5: Series B defense cyber and data company delivering OT/ICS cybersecurity and predictive maintenance to DoD and critical infrastructure operators — comparable AI-enabled defense go-to-market with a similar focus on operator-led product development.
- Anduril Industries: Well-capitalized defense technology company building AI-enabled hardware and software for national security customers including DoD and IC — competes with Sphinx for AI-enabled defense budget and represents the well-funded emerging alternative to veteran-led small businesses.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sphinx compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Sphinx financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sphinx leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Sphinx subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Sphinx funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sphinx M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sphinx
What does Sphinx do?
Sphinx delivers AI-enabled cybersecurity and counterintelligence software and services for Defense & Intelligence, Homeland Security, and Fortune 500 clients. Its core offering centers on the AxIS (Adaptive Intelligence and Security) enterprise mission management platform, complemented by the Evolved Security Playbook service families (RECON, RedShift, Helix, SWARM) and MAX Factory solutions (Advanced Adversary Defeat and AI-Enabled Cyber Operations). The AxIS Baseline Platform provides the foundational four-layer architecture, while AxIS Counterintelligence is the mission-specific implementation for CI Commanders, Agents, Desk Officers, and Analysts.
Is Sphinx a public or private company?
Sphinx is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sphinx founded?
Sphinx was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sphinx based?
Sphinx is headquartered in Virginia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sphinx make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Federal Government Contracts are the primary driver. The others are axIS Platform Licensing, SWARM Advisory Services, redShift Adversary Emulation, helix Managed Defense, RECON Security Assessments and acquisition - Enigma International.
Who are Sphinx's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Core4ce and Dark Wolf Technologies. Broad incumbents are Booz Allen Hamilton, ECS Group (ASGN Federal), Parsons Corporation, Leidos, SAIC and Two Six Technologies. Emerging players are Shift5 and Anduril Industries.
Does Sphinx have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sphinx.
What industry is Sphinx in?
Sphinx's product category is Defense & Intelligence Cybersecurity Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDADAGAD, Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIP), with a secondary code of HDAEANAC, Model Serving, Inference & Deployment Platforms (APIs, Edge/On-Prem). Its NAICS code is 541512 and its SIC code is 7373.