Sphinx

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.

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

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

• Counterintelligence software
• Adversary emulation services
• Managed cyber defense
• Mission management platform
• Federal security consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Virginia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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).
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Enigma InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 July 2025Sphinx 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.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentor 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

Direct 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

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sphinx