CyberBytes: The Podcast

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/