In this episode, we dive deep into the world of cybersecurity and AI with David Beltran, a 30-year tech veteran and the founder of CypherShield. David shares how his insatiable curiosity led him from dismantling toys as a kid to becoming a cybersecurity architect at IBM, and now, a founder tackling one of the internet's biggest threats: phishing. His journey is both technically brilliant and wildly creative—melding science fiction, digital art, and entrepreneurship into a bold mission for safer tech ecosystems.

If you're an entrepreneur fascinated by innovation, emerging tech, or building a business that solves real-world problems, this episode is for you.

💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business

• 🚨 Why phishing still accounts for over 92% of all malware attacks—and how to stay protected
• 🤖 How David is building consensus-based AI models to radically improve cybersecurity accuracy
• 🧠 The “dark side” of tech innovation and how to ethically build solutions in AI and blockchain
• 💥 Why artistic minds make powerful founders—and how David's creative brain fuels his company vision
• 💡 How to turn your career experience into a startup that solves critical problems
• 🌐 A real-world breakdown of Web3 risks—and how entrepreneurs can navigate decentralized ecosystems
• 🔄 The power of building “from scratch” when creating business systems that don’t yet exist

📝 About the Guest
David Beltran is a seasoned IT professional with over 30 years of experience, including two decades in cybersecurity. During his 14-year tenure at IBM, he advanced from incident response to the role of architect, leading global initiatives to secure millions of endpoints against evolving threats. His expertise spans the design, configuration, and governance of cybersecurity frameworks for Fortune 500 companies. A military brat who briefly served in the armed forces himself, David brings a disciplined, mission-driven approach to every challenge he tackles.

🎯 David’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
“Follow your curiosity relentlessly—and invest in yourself along the way.”

💡 Key takeaways from David’s advice:
✔ Curiosity is a superpower—don’t ignore your inner nerd
✔ Create a plan to do what you love, even if it’s not possible today
✔ Prioritize your mental wellness—your clarity fuels your leadership

📢 Memorable Quotes

“Phishing still accounts for over 92% of all malware incidents—and most people don’t even know they’re being targeted.” – David Beltran

“Creatives make the best entrepreneurs because they thrive when there’s no roadmap.” – David Beltran

“The dark side of tech isn’t just in sci-fi. It’s here—and we need ethical builders to combat it.” – David Beltran

💡 Actionable Takeaways
✅ Audit your email systems—phishing is still the #1 cybersecurity threat
✅ Use AI as a tool for detection and protection, not just automation
✅ Build your company like a work of art—vision and structure matter
✅ Embrace curiosity: it’s the spark for innovation, invention, and entrepreneurial success
✅ Start with one problem you deeply understand—build your business around solving it

🔗 Links & Resources

•  Connect with David on LinkedIn