In Season 2 Episode 10, we talk to Vivek Ramachandran, Founder  @SquareXTeam  .

In this episode, Vivek shares his journey in cybersecurity, discussing the evolution of content creation, the importance of building for a global audience, and navigating the Indian cybersecurity market. He emphasizes the need for browser security, the challenges of local markets, and the significance of personal relationships in business. In this conversation, Vivek Ramachandran shares insights on the challenges faced by founders, particularly in breaking into the U.S. market. He emphasizes the importance of building a strong advisor network and engaging in technical conversations. The discussion also delves into the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, highlighting the impact of AI on both attackers and defenders. Vivek offers valuable advice for new startup founders, stressing the need for patience, understanding the responsibilities of fundraising, and focusing on fundamental skills.

Key Takeaways

- The browser is now considered the new endpoint for security.

- Pentester Academy was born out of a need to share knowledge.

- Content creation has evolved significantly over the years. Today's audience prefers bite-sized, impactful content.

- Founders should think globally from the start.

- Cybersecurity in India is often driven by compliance rather than necessity.

- Technical founders must adapt to market needs and customer relationships.

- Design partnerships can help startups gain traction in local markets. Founders often give up after a few rejections.

- Building an advisor network is essential for success.

- AI is changing the dynamics of cybersecurity.

- Raising funds is a responsibility, not a success metric.

- Focus on fundamentals to stay relevant in tech.

- Learning by doing is becoming too easy with AI.

- Engage with your target market to build credibility.

Tune in to find out more! 

Contacting Vivek

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekramachandran/

* SquareX: https://www.sqrx.com/ 

Contacting Anshuman

* LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anshumanbhartiya/

* X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/anshuman_bh

* Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anshumanbhartiya.com/

* ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/anshuman.bhartiya

Contacting Sandesh

* LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anandsandesh/

* X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/JubbaOnJeans

* Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boringappsec.substack.com/

In Season 2 Episode 9, we talk to Ali Mesdaq, Founder & CEO @ Amplify Security.

We discuss the evolution of security tools, the importance of customer validation, and the role of AI agents in enhancing security practices. Ali shares insights on building a positive security culture within organizations and how Amplify Security differentiates itself in a competitive market. The conversation emphasizes the need for collaboration between security and development teams, the challenges of addressing known and unknown vulnerabilities, and the future of AI in cybersecurity.

Key Takeaways

- Amplify helps coders secure their code effectively.

- Customer validation is crucial for startup confidence.

- Security tools should enhance developer experience.

- AI agents can automate security fixes intelligently.

- Contextual understanding is vital for security solutions.

- Developers should approve code changes for security fixes.

- A positive security culture fosters collaboration.

- AI can help prioritize and manage vulnerabilities.

- The future of security involves AI-driven solutions.

- Security issues must be addressed in a timely manner.

Tune in to find out more! 

Contacting Ali

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amesdaq/

* Akto: https://amplify.security/

Contacting Anshuman

* LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anshumanbhartiya/

* X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/anshuman_bh

* Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anshumanbhartiya.com/

* ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/anshuman.bhartiya

Contacting Sandesh

* LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anandsandesh/

* X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/JubbaOnJeans

* Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boringappsec.substack.com/

In Season 2 Episode 8, we talk to Ankita Gupta, Co-Founder & CEO @ Akto.io

Ankita shares her unique journey into the cybersecurity space, discussing her diverse background and the inception of her API security company. She emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs, the role of co-founders in a startup's success, and the surprising maturity of buyers in the cybersecurity industry. Ankita also delves into marketing strategies for cybersecurity startups, highlighting the need for differentiation and continuous iteration in messaging. In this conversation, Ankita discusses various aspects of marketing strategies for enterprise SaaS, the challenges of building a brand in a competitive market, and the importance of API security. She emphasizes the need for startups to identify specific problems within their target market and how LLMs can significantly enhance API security. The discussion also touches on the necessity of experimentation and iteration in integrating AI into products.

Key Takeaways

- Understanding customer needs is crucial for product development.

- A strong co-founder relationship is vital for startup success.

- Buyers in cybersecurity are more mature than in other industries.

- Marketing should focus on product differentiation.

- Iterate marketing positioning continuously based on feedback.

- Networking is important, but building a customer base is essential.

- Cybersecurity tools are often purchased through structured processes. Social media is crucial for enterprise SaaS marketing.

- Branding requires a clear representation of the product's value.

- API security is a growing concern that needs addressing.

- LLMs can revolutionize the way API security is approached.

- It's essential to iterate and experiment with AI technologies.

- The market for API security is significant, even if not immediately recognized.

- Startups should not shy away from basic use cases with LLMs.

Tune in to find out more! 

Contacting Ankita

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankita-gupta-89214515/

* Akto: https://www.akto.io/

Contacting Anshuman

* LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anshumanbhartiya/

* X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/anshuman_bh

* Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anshumanbhartiya.com/

* ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/anshuman.bhartiya

Contacting Sandesh

* LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anandsandesh/

* X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/JubbaOnJeans

* Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boringappsec.substack.com/

In Season 2 Episode 7, we talk to Jonathan Cran, Founder @ Stealth.

Jonathan is a seasoned security industry veteran, discussing the evolution of AI in security, the challenges of adopting AI technologies in enterprises, and the future of attack surface management. We explore the role of AI agents, the importance of context in security solutions, and provide insights for cybersecurity entrepreneurs looking to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of technology and security.

Key Takeaways

- AI agents are still in early development stages.

- Consistency is crucial for AI adoption in enterprises.

- Automation can significantly enhance security processes.

- Contextual understanding is key for effective risk scoring.

- Generative AI can both solve security problems and create new ones.

- The demand for automated remediation solutions is growing.

- Attack surface management is evolving with new technologies.

- Understanding vulnerabilities requires a comprehensive approach.

- Entrepreneurs should focus on market problems, not just technology.

- Investors prioritize team, timing, and traction when evaluating startups.

Tune in to find out more!

Contacting Jonathan

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcran/

Contacting Anshuman

* LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anshumanbhartiya/

* X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/anshuman_bh

* Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anshumanbhartiya.com/

* ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/anshuman.bhartiya

Contacting Sandesh

* LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anandsandesh/

* X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/JubbaOnJeans

* Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boringappsec.substack.com/

In Season 2 Episode 6, we talk to Vibhav Sreekanti, Co-Founder & CTO @ProphetSecurity  .

We discuss the evolving landscape of AI in cybersecurity, the skepticism surrounding generative AI, and the importance of experimentation with AI agents. Vibhav shares insights on building specialized agents for security operations, the challenges of deploying AI in production, and the critical need for security in AI infrastructure. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of asking tough questions about data security and the role of AI in enhancing security operations. We discuss the evolving landscape of security operations, focusing on the role of AI agents and the challenges faced by SOAR platforms. We explore the importance of centralized authentication, the need for human oversight in AI applications, and the lessons learned from Vibhav's startup journey, emphasizing the significance of team dynamics and market readiness.

Key Takeaways

- Vibhav has spent his career at startups, focusing on building products and teams.

- Keeping up with AI advancements requires active engagement on platforms like Twitter.

- Hands-on experimentation with new tools is crucial for understanding their applicability.

- Skepticism in AI is warranted due to past over-promises in the industry.

- Generative AI can enhance security operations if implemented thoughtfully.

- AI agents should be used selectively based on the problem at hand.

- Building a suite of specialized agents can lead to more effective outcomes.

- Security practices for distributed systems apply to agentic architectures as well.

- Data security and handling are paramount when using third-party AI models.

- Implementing gateways for AI interactions can help enforce security policies.

- Centralized authentication and authorization using OPA is compelling.

- SOAR platforms have not lived up to their promises, leading to alert fatigue.

- AI agents can enhance investigative tasks in security operations.

- Human oversight is essential in AI-driven security solutions.

- The importance of team dynamics cannot be overstated in startups.

- Understanding market dynamics is crucial for startup success.

- Being too early in a market can be as detrimental as being wrong.

- Feedback loops are vital for improving AI systems in security.

- The alert is just the beginning of incident response.

- The journey of AI agents in security is still in its infancy.

Tune in to find out more!

Contacting Vibhav

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vibhavs/

* Prophet Security: https://www.prophetsecurity.ai/

Contacting Anshuman

* LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anshumanbhartiya/

* X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/anshuman_bh

* Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anshumanbhartiya.com/

* ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/anshuman.bhartiya

Contacting Sandesh

* LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anandsandesh/

* X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/JubbaOnJeans

* Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boringappsec.substack.com/

In Season 2 Episode 5, we talk to Drew Dennison, Co-Founder & CTO @ Semgrep.

In Season 2 Episode 4, we talk to Varun Badhwar, Founder & CEO @ Endor Labs.

In Season 2 Episode 3, we interview Robert Wood, Founder & CEO @ SideKick Security.

Key Takeaways

- Sidekick Security aims to address the challenges of siloed point solutions in cybersecurity.

- Rob emphasizes the importance of soft skills alongside technical skills in cybersecurity roles.

- Platformization can help reduce silos, but unique security needs must be considered.

- Every security program is unique and should be approached accordingly.

- Building a security data lake can enhance data sharing and collaboration among teams.

- Effective communication is crucial for security professionals to succeed.

- Engaging with the community is essential for growth in the cybersecurity field.

- Regulation and governance discussions are crucial as new technologies emerge.

* SideKick Security: https://sidekicksecurity.io/

In Season 2 Episode 2, we interview Dustin Lehr, Co-Founder, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Katilyst.

Key Takeaways

- Security champions programs are crucial for fostering a security culture.

- Engagement and leadership support are key to program success.

- Measuring success can be challenging but is essential.

- Behavioral science plays a significant role in security engagement.

- Gamification can enhance training but must be used wisely.

- Curiosity can drive initial engagement but must be sustained.

- Training should be relevant and tailored to the audience.

- Creating empathy between teams improves security outcomes.

- Deep gamification focuses on understanding human drives.

- Starting a company is about helping others, not just profit.

- AI can augment human interactions but cannot replace them.

- Security teams should focus on providing value and support.

- Human connection is essential in cybersecurity.

- The importance of community and collaboration in security efforts.

* Security Champion Success Guide: https://securitychampionsuccessguide.org/

In Season 2 Episode 1, we interview Jimmy Mesta, a seasoned expert in application security and co-founder of RAD Security.

- RAD Security aims to address real-time security for cloud-native infrastructure.