CyberBytes: The Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Brian Carbaugh, CEO and Co-Founder of Andesite, to unpack one of the most unconventional founder journeys in cybersecurity.Brian spent 25 years at the CIA, serving in special operations, covert action, and ultimately leading the agency’s Special Activities Center. Today, he’s building a well-funded AI-for-SOC company in one of the most crowded and competitive markets in tech.We dig into:• How a career in intelligence shaped Brian’s approach to leadership, risk, and company-building• Why Andesite is taking a contrarian stance on AI in the SOC by putting analysts, not automation, at the centre• What’s broken about today’s “replace the analyst” narrative in cybersecurity• How the AI SOC market has exploded and what actually differentiates vendors beyond hype• Why Andesite chose a company-builder and foundry model over traditional venture funding• The strategic decision to prioritise compliance and trust from day one• The realities of transitioning from national security to startup chaosThis conversation goes deep on human-first AI, trust in cybersecurity, and what it really takes to build an enterprise-grade company in a noisy market.Brian's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-carbaugh-38b339243/Andesite - https://www.linkedin.com/company/andesiteai/Oliver's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverlegg/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

Security teams are drowning in vulnerabilities.Millions of alerts. Tiny teams. Attackers moving faster every year.In this episode, we sit down with Harry, Co-founder and CEO of Maze, to unpack why vulnerability management is fundamentally broken and how AI agents are starting to change the game.Harry shares his journey from leading product at Tessian to building Maze, the moments that convinced him this problem had to be solved, and why most AI security products are more marketing than substance.We cover:Why having a million “critical” vulnerabilities is uselessHow AI agents can identify the handful that actually matterWhat most security vendors get wrong about risk scoringHiring for potential in early-stage startupsWhy UK cyber startups must think US-first from day oneIf you care about AI in security, building high-impact teams, or staying ahead of attackers in a rapidly changing threat landscape, this one’s for you.Harry's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrywetherald/Maze - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mazehq/Steffen's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffenfoley/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffenfoley/

In this episode of CyberBytes, we sit down with Alex, co-founder and CEO of Arcade.dev, to unpack the real story behind MCP (Model Context Protocol) and why it has become one of the fastest-adopted standards in AI.Alex explains how the industry is moving past “wow” chatbots toward action-taking agents that can actually send the email, update the CRM, and automate real workflows. He also shares the unexpected pivot that led Arcade to its core product. What started as a site reliability agent turned into a breakthrough “tool execution layer” that separates an agent’s brain from its hands, making AI actions deterministic, secure, and production-ready.We dig into why most enterprise agent projects stall before production, the three bottlenecks killing ROI (accuracy, token cost, and security), and how MCP done right is not just “APIs wrapped for LLMs” but intention-based tooling built around what users want to achieve. Plus, Alex drops hard-earned lessons from his previous startup exit to Okta, including why early founders should sell fake demos first and why the best infrastructure products feel like black magic.If you are building agents, investing in the space, or trying to understand what the next 6 to 12 months of AI adoption looks like, this one is for you.Alex's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexsalazar/Arcade.dev - https://www.arcade.dev/Steffen's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffenfoley/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

In this episode, Joseph sits down with David DellaPelle, CEO and Co-founder of Dune Security, to unpack one of the biggest and fastest evolving challenges in cybersecurity today: human risk.David shares his unexpected path into the industry, from early work to rapid growth at Perimeter 81, before a chance meeting on a delayed flight sparked the beginnings of Dune Security. He breaks down why traditional security awareness is a legacy, ineffective solution, and how Dune Security is rebuilding the category with user adaptive risk management, real behavioural insight and continuous red teaming across every channel.From identifying malicious insiders, to tackling AI driven spear phishing at scale, to giving low risk employees time back, David explains how Dune Security is changing the way modern enterprises understand and manage human risk. He also talks about the growth of the company, the influence of its deep bench of enterprise CISO advisors and what the next wave of human and non-human identity risk looks like.David's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daviddellapelle/Dune Security - https://www.linkedin.com/company/dune-security/Joseph's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybercoops/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

In this episode, we sit down with Amir Khayat, CEO and Co-Founder of Vorlon, to unpack one of the fastest-growing frontiers in cybersecurity - SaaS and AI ecosystem security.From his early career to where he is now, Amir shares how his unique go-to-market background gives Vorlon a serious edge. He reveals why CISOs are finally waking up to the real risks in their SaaS supply chains, why misconfigurations are a losing battle, and how Vorlon’s behavioural data movement approach is reshaping how enterprises defend their environments.Vorlon secures the converged SaaS and AI ecosystem, giving enterprises visibility and control over the data, identities, and integrations that power modern business. Built on patent-pending DataMatrix™ technology, Vorlon’s unified SaaS and AI security platform creates a live model of every app, agent, and connected service, along with their interdependent data flows, non-human identities, and users. It delivers continuous, agentless visibility without disrupting operations.Organizations can see data in motion, uncover risky integrations and unsanctioned AI tools, detect unusual behaviour, and automate remediation in real time. Backed by Accel and trusted by Fortune 500 leaders and fast-moving innovators, Vorlon helps security teams safeguard sensitive data and innovate with confidence in the era of AI-driven transformation.Learn more at vorlon.io.If you’re tracking the intersection of SaaS, AI, and data protection, or just love hearing from founders changing the game, this one’s for you.Amir's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amir-khayat/Vorlon's - https://www.linkedin.com/company/vorlon/Oliver's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverlegg/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

In this episode, we sit down with Tal, the unstoppable founder and CEO of Remedio, for a conversation about building one of cybersecurity’s fastest-growing companies - from scratch.Tal’s story is anything but ordinary: from teenage “hacker” days and a five-year military career in Israel, to building a profitable, bootstrapped cybersecurity startup that’s now attracting major global attention, including Forbes recognition as a “Next Billion-Dollar Startup.”Tal's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tal-kollender-remedio/Remedio - https://www.linkedin.com/company/remediosecurity/Steffen's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffenfoley/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

What happens when a finance grad with zero coding experience ends up leading some of the most innovative cybersecurity companies in the world?In this episode, Jason Kaplan, CEO of SixMap, Inc, joins us to talk about leadership, resilience, and why understanding who you are might just be the missing link in cyber defence.Jason shares how he went from building early internet companies like Akamai, founding a smart running startup later acquired by Zwift, and now leading SixMap’s mission to map the world’s digital attack surface.Jason's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdkaplan/details/experience/SixMap, Inc - https://www.linkedin.com/company/sixmap-inc/Joseph's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybercoops/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

What happens when a finance grad with zero coding experience ends up leading some of the most innovative cybersecurity companies in the world?In this episode, Jason Kaplan, CEO of SixMap, Inc, joins us to talk about leadership, resilience, and why understanding who you are might just be the missing link in cyber defence.Jason shares how he went from building early internet companies like Akamai, founding a smart running startup later acquired by Zwift, and now leading SixMap’s mission to map the world’s digital attack surface.Jason's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdkaplan/details/experience/SixMap, Inc - https://www.linkedin.com/company/sixmap-inc/Joseph's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybercoops/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

When Darktrace alumni Henry and Hanah teamed up to launch Geordie AI, their goal wasn’t just to build another cybersecurity startup, it was to help enterprises safely unlock the power of AI agents.In this episode, we explore the origin story behind Geordie AI - from its roots in a 200-year-old mining invention, the Geordie Lamp, to the company’s mission to give businesses visibility into risks they can’t yet see.Henry shares how he went from running a professional football club at 23 to building one of the most talked-about startups in AI security. Hannah draws on her decade in government intelligence and years at Darktrace to explain how “agentic” AI is reshaping the enterprise, and why governance and enablement must go hand in hand.This is an episode you won't want to miss.Henry's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-comfort/Hanah's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanah-marie-darley/Geordie AI - https://www.linkedin.com/company/geordie-ai/Steffen's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffenfoley/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

In today's episode of CyberBytes: The Podcast, we're joined by Ely Abramovitch, CEO and Co-Founder of Legion Security, to share his journey founding Legion, and how his team is redefining security operations with AI-driven automation.Fresh out of stealth, Legion is gaining momentum by tackling one of cybersecurity’s biggest challenges: alert fatigue and inefficient SOC workflows. Ely breaks down why his browser-based approach is a game changer, how it builds trust with analysts, and what makes Legion different from the growing crowd of AI SOC startups.Ely's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ely-abramovitch-a3a912bb/Legion Security - https://www.linkedin.com/company/legion-security-ai/Joseph's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybercoops/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

In this episode, we sit down with Art, CEO and co-founder of Britive, to explore how identity management is being completely redefined in the age of AI, cloud, and agentic systems.From his early days in the 2000s building identity solutions to selling his first startup to Optiv Security, Art shares his incredible journey through two decades of cybersecurity evolution. We dive deep into the rise of non-human identities (NHIs), why they’re one of the biggest security challenges facing enterprises today, and how Britive is leading the charge to secure the next generation of AI-driven, autonomous agents.Art also opens up about the realities of founder life, the lessons learned after a successful acquisition, and what it takes to build a company with lasting impact.If you’re curious about where identity, AI, and cybersecurity are heading next, this episode is a must-watch.Art’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/artyompoghosyan/Britive - https://www.linkedin.com/company/britive/Joseph’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybercoops/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

This week, we pull back the curtain on one of cybersecurity’s most fascinating venture models. Leo Scott, Managing Director at DataTribe, joins us to reveal how the Maryland-based “startup foundry” is turning ex-intelligence talent into world-changing cybersecurity companies. From the early days of Dragos, Strider, and BlackCloak, to the unique mix of venture capital and hands-on co-building that defines DataTribe’s approach, Leo explains how they capture “lightning in a bottle” at the seed stage.But the timing couldn’t be better: the 8th annual DataTribe Startup Challenge takes place on November 4th, and this year’s event promises to be the biggest yet. Leo gives us an inside look at what founders can expect from the competition, how the finalists are chosen, and why the challenge has become one of the premier launchpads for early-stage cybersecurity startups worldwide.If you’re a founder, investor, or cyber enthusiast, this episode is your backstage pass to how innovation is being forged at the intersection of government-grade expertise and startup hustle, and why all eyes will be on Washington, D.C., this November.Leo’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leoscott/DataTribe - https://www.linkedin.com/company/datatribe-/Oliver’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverlegg/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

Two of the most respected names in cybersecurity, Rinki Sethi and Lucas Moody, sit down for an unfiltered conversation about their journey from hands-on security leaders to venture capitalists at Lockstep.In this lively episode, complete with a pre-noon shot of Jameson, they share how they’ve managed to juggle high-stakes CISO roles with investing, why their community-driven approach attracts top founders, and the red flags that instantly kill a deal. You’ll also get a peek at some of their hottest early investments, and their secret to staying energized while working 100-hour weeks.Whether you’re a cybersecurity practitioner, an aspiring founder, or just curious about how VCs really operate, this episode is packed with insights, war stories, and a lot of personality.Rinki's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rinkisethi/Lucas's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lwmoody/Lockstep - https://www.linkedin.com/company/lockstepvc/Oliver's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverlegg/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

In this episode of CyberBytes, Oliver sits down with Bob Blakley, co-founder of Mimic Security and 49-year industry veteran, to unpack everything from the excesses of Black Hat to the realities of building a next-generation ransomware defence company.Bob shares candid stories from his journey at IBM, Citigroup, and Team8, explains why focusing solely on preventing attacks isn’t enough, and reveals how Mimic Security is flipping the script on ransomware by minimizing its impact. They also discuss the challenges of building company culture in a post-COVID world, how AI fits into the current threat landscape, and what decades in the field have taught him about security trends that stick versus those that fizzle.If you’re curious about the future of cybersecurity, want a behind-the-scenes look at startup life, or simply love hearing war stories from the frontlines of tech, this episode is a must-listen.Bob's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-blakley-92512b/Mimic - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mimic-networks/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/Oliver's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverlegg/

In this special BlackHat 2025 episode, Steffen welcomes back Vivek Ramachandran, renowned cybersecurity expert, Defcon speaker, and founder of SquareX, to explore how the browser has become today’s hottest security battleground.We cover:How browser security has evolved dramatically in just 18 monthsWhy attackers are pivoting from endpoints to browsersThe rise of rogue AI agents and what it means for enterprise securitySquareX’s innovative approach to browser detection & response + DLPVivek’s personal journey as a solo founder and how he stays motivatedThe comic book he created to teach kids about ethical hackingIf you’re a CISO, IT leader, or just curious about the future of cyber defence, this episode will open your eyes to the threats (and opportunities) hiding inside your browser.Vivek's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekramachandran/SquareX - https://www.linkedin.com/company/getsquarex/Steffen's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffenfoley/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

Live from BlackHat 2025, we sit down with Halyna Vasylevska, Sector Lead of Cybersecurity Portfolio Development at Munich Re Ventures, to pull back the curtain on how one of the world’s biggest reinsurers is fuelling the next generation of cybersecurity startups.In this episode, Halyna shares how her team partners with founders from day zero, helping them navigate go-to-market strategy, talent, partnerships, and global expansion. We dive into the unique role of portfolio development, why it’s the secret weapon most people overlook in venture capital, and how Munich Re Ventures is building one of the most influential CISO communities in the industry.We also explore the growing issue of CISO liability and executive risk, the challenges of balancing technical backgrounds with commercial demands, and the hidden ways VCs can supercharge startup success long before an exit.If you’ve ever wondered how cyber startups really scale, what VCs look for beyond the pitch deck, or why CISOs are becoming the most important voice in venture, this episode is packed with insider insights you won’t hear anywhere else.Halyna's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/halynavasylevska/Munich Re Ventures - https://www.linkedin.com/company/munich-re-ventures/Oliver's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverlegg/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

In this episode, we sit down with Clarence Chio, CEO of Coverbase, to unpack his incredible journey through the world of cybersecurity and AI. From his first role at Shape Security, to co-founding Unit 21 to fight financial crime, Clarence has been at the heart of some of the most exciting security innovations of the past decade.He shares candid stories of hypergrowth chaos (including the time a code push took down an entire hotel chain), what inspired him to launch Coverbase, and why enterprise procurement is broken. We dive into his views on AI in security, what’s hype, what’s real, and how it’s changing the role of security professionals forever.Clarence also opens up about his work teaching at Berkeley, co-authoring Machine Learning and Security, and founding the AI Village at DEF CON. If you’ve ever wondered where cybersecurity is heading, how AI will reshape the industry, or what it really takes to build companies at the frontier of risk and compliance, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.Clarence's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cchio/Coverbase - https://www.linkedin.com/company/coverbase/Joseph's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybercoops/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

What happens when a film school grad turned infantry sergeant turned Amazon AI leader walks away from a cushy tech job to tackle one of the government’s most boring, yet most critical, problems? Meet Sri Iyer, co-founder and CTO of Kovr.ai, the startup using generative AI to take on the mountain of red tape strangling government and defense innovation.In this episode, recorded live at BlackHat 2025, Sri shares his wild career journey, why outdated compliance is cybersecurity’s biggest blind spot, and how AI might be the only way 80,000 defense contractors can survive the new CMMC mandate.From raising $3M in seed funding to hitting seven figures in ARR in under a year, Sri reveals how Kovr.ai is scaling fast, what GenAI really means for national security, and why sometimes the “boring problems” turn out to be billion-dollar opportunities.Sri's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sri-iyer/Kovr.ai - https://www.linkedin.com/company/kovrai/Ben's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-gascoigne-aa973317b/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

In this episode, we sit down with Ankur Shah, CEO & Co-Founder of Straiker AI, fresh off a massive $21M seed raise.Straiker AI is tackling one of the most urgent questions in tech right now: what happens when autonomous AI agents go rogue?Ankur breaks down:- Why agentic AI could unleash both massive productivity and unprecedented security risks- How Straiker’s Ascend and Defend agents are designed to battle “autonomous chaos”- Why startups still have the edge over big tech in the race to secure AI- The future of AI security, and why only AI can defend against AIIf you’ve ever wondered what happens when AI agents start making decisions (and mistakes) on their own, this conversation is a must-listen.Ankur's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankur-shah-aisec/Straiker - https://www.linkedin.com/company/straikerai/Oliver's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverlegg/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

In this episode, we sit down with Elizabeth Nammour, Founder & CEO of Teleskope, a fast-growing data security startup that’s already protecting enterprise customers. Lizzy shares her journey from building internal security tools at Airbnb to taking the leap into entrepreneurship, fundraising her seed round, and navigating the challenges of being a solo founder.We dive into:How she turned her Airbnb experience into a venture-backed startupWhy AI makes data security riskier than everLessons learned from raising capital as a first-time founderThe future of data security in the era of Copilot, ChatGPT, and generative AIHer best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs who are hesitating to startWhether you’re a founder, investor, or just curious about the future of AI and cybersecurity, Lizzy’s story is full of insights, honesty, and inspiration.Lizzy’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethnammour/Teleskope - https://www.linkedin.com/company/teleskopeai/Joseph’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybercoops/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/