CyberBytes: The Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Vineet Edupuganti, CEO and Co-Founder of Cogent Security, an AI-powered vulnerability management company reshaping how enterprises defend against today’s rapidly evolving threats. Vineet shares his journey from machine learning engineer to leading product and engineering at Abnormal Security, and now building Cogent to tackle one of cybersecurity’s most persistent challenges: turning vulnerability data into real, actionable remediation.Recorded live at Black Hat 2025 in Las Vegas, this conversation dives into the founding story of Cogent, the shortcomings of legacy tools, how AI is shifting the balance between attackers and defenders, and what it takes to assemble world-class talent from companies like DeepMind, Stripe, and Tesla. Vineet also opens up about the role of investors, customer trust, and why he believes vulnerability management needs a complete rethink.Whether you’re a security leader, builder, or simply curious about the future of AI in cybersecurity, this episode offers a candid look at how Cogent plans to close the gap between vulnerabilities and fixed, and why the time is now.Vineet's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vineetedupuganti/Cogent Security - https://www.linkedin.com/company/cogentsecurity/Oliver's Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverlegg/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/The BlackHat Edition of CyberBytes is proudly sponsored by Marketbridge - a unique blend of strategic growth consultancy and top-tier marketing agency. Marketbridge drives accelerated performance with zero signal loss, seamlessly connecting GTM strategy to in-market execution.Marketbridge: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketbridge/

AI is transforming business at lightning speed, but with great power comes… oversharing? In this episode, we sit down with Oz Wasserman, Co-Founder of Opsin, a fast-growing startup on a mission to keep enterprise AI deployments safe from dangerous data leaks. From his days in Israel’s elite cyber units to product leadership roles, Oz shares how he spotted the hidden risks no one was talking about, and turned them into a billion-dollar opportunity. We dive into the surprising ways AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini can accidentally expose sensitive data, why ‘AI oversharing’ is the next big security crisis, and what enterprises need to do right now to stay protected. If you care about the future of AI, security, and innovation, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss.Oz's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oz-wasserman/Opsin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/opsin-inc/Joseph's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybercoops/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/The BlackHat Edition of CyberBytes is proudly sponsored by Marketbridge - a unique blend of strategic growth consultancy and top-tier marketing agency.Marketbridge drives accelerated performance with zero signal loss, seamlessly connecting GTM strategy to in-market execution.Marketbridge: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketbridge/

Most cybersecurity startups chase VC funding to fuel their growth. But Chris Wallis, CEO and Co-Founder of Intruder, took a different path. From a decade as a pen tester to building one of the fastest-growing attack surface management platforms, Chris has grown Intruder to $13M ARR and 3,000+ customers worldwide, without a single dollar of VC funding.In this episode, Chris shares:- The bold decision to quit his day job and launch Intruder- - Why bootstrapping gave them cultural freedom and agility- What's next for Intruder If you’re a founder, cybersecurity pro, or just love hearing how underdogs beat the odds, this episode is packed with insights.Chris's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-wallis/Intruder - https://www.linkedin.com/company/intruder/Oliver's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverlegg/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/BlackHat Edition of CyberBytes is proudly sponsored by Marketbridge - a unique blend of strategic growth consultancy and top-tier marketing agency. Marketbridge drives accelerated performance with zero signal loss, seamlessly connecting GTM strategy to in-market execution.Marketbridge: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketbridge/

From the frontlines of Israel’s elite cyber defense unit to the buzzing halls of Black Hat in Las Vegas, CeTu’s founders are on a mission to change the way the world’s biggest companies handle their security data.In this episode, we sit down with Kfir Gollan, CTO and Co-Founder of CeTu, to unpack his journey from teenage tech prodigy, securing military communications in the IDF, and now tackling one of cybersecurity’s most pressing challenges: the explosion of data and the complexity it brings.Kfir reveals how he reunited with his co-founder to create a data orchestration platform designed for the scale, speed, and intelligence the Fortune 500 demand. From AI breakthroughs and real-world lessons in product fine-tuning, to navigating the US market and selecting strategic partners, this conversation offers a candid look at what it takes to build, and scale, a cybersecurity startup in 2025.Whether you’re in tech, entrepreneurship, or just love a good founder story, you’ll walk away with insights, inspiration, and maybe a little Vegas envy.Kfir's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kfir-gollan-82205b14/CeTu - https://www.linkedin.com/company/cetu-data-orchestration/Ben's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-gascoigne-aa973317b/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/The BlackHat Edition of CyberBytes is proudly sponsored by Marketbridge - a unique blend of strategic growth consultancy and top-tier marketing agency. Marketbridge drives accelerated performance with zero signal loss, seamlessly connecting GTM strategy to in-market execution.Marketbridge: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketbridge/

In today's episode of CyberBytes: The Podcast, we're joined by Sanny Liao and Nicole Jiang, Co-Founders of Fable Security, a cutting-edge cybersecurity startup that just burst out of stealth with a mission to revolutionise human risk management. With deep roots at Abnormal Security, where they were among the first team members, Sanny and Nicole combine expertise in data science, behavioural psychology, AI, and product design to tackle the #1 cause of cyber breaches - human error.Their breakthrough approach leverages AI-driven personalised interventions inspired by ad tech to change employee behaviour in real time, boosting security engagement by up to 40% and reducing phishing susceptibility by 86%. Fable’s platform uniquely closes the loop by continuously validating behaviour changes, helping CISOs transform their workforce into a powerful first line of defence against evolving cyber threats.In this episode, they share their journey from stealth launch at Black Hat to building a product that’s reshaping security awareness training - moving beyond generic, once-a-year courses toward hyper-personalised, just-in-time nudges that actually work.Nicole's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolekjiang/Sanny's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sannyliao/Fable Security - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fable-security/Oliver's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverlegg/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/The BlackHat Edition of CyberBytes is proudly sponsored by Marketbridge - a unique blend of strategic growth consultancy and top-tier marketing agency. Marketbridge drives accelerated performance with zero signal loss, seamlessly connecting GTM strategy to in-market execution.Marketbridge: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketbridge/

In this episode, we sit down with Casber Wang, Partner at Sapphire Ventures, diving into what it takes to invest in some of the biggest names in AI, cybersecurity, and enterprise software.Casber shares:👉 His journey from emigrating to the US and starting in investment banking to joining Sapphire Ventures in 2018👉 Lessons learned from founding his own startup, and why he has more empathy for the entrepreneurial grind👉 How Sapphire approaches growth-stage investing and why “the more things change, the more they stay the same” in cyber👉 The stories behind his investments, and why founder dynamics make or break scale👉 Where AI and cyber really intersect, and why most companies still have no idea how to secure AI👉 The crowded SOC AI space, identity innovation, and the “painkiller vs. vitamin” test for new solutionsPlus: the advice he gives aspiring VCs, why access is just as important as judgment, and how to find your spike in a competitive market.If you’re building in cybersecurity, raising growth capital, or just want an inside look at how top VCs spot winners, this one’s for you.Casber's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/casberwang/Sapphire Ventures - https://www.linkedin.com/company/sapphirevc/Joseph's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybercoops/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/The BlackHat Edition of CyberBytes is proudly sponsored by Marketbridge - a unique blend of strategic growth consultancy and top-tier marketing agency. Marketbridge drives accelerated performance with zero signal loss, seamlessly connecting GTM strategy to in-market execution.Marketbridge: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketbridge/

In this episode, we sit down with Arik, Founding Managing Partner at Glilot Capital Partners, to explore his 25+ year journey at the heart of Israel’s tech and cybersecurity ecosystem.Arik shares:👉 How a chance conversation with his business school professor led to his first role in venture capital back in 1996👉 Why he believes the best founders are master storytellers who can sell a vision, not just a product👉 The “unfair advantage” Israeli founders have, and how Glilot uses it to back category-leading companies👉 His take on the WIZ-Google deal and what it means for the future of Israeli cyber👉 Where AI is creating both risks and opportunities in security👉 The one common mistake he sees technical founders make,  and how to avoid itWhether you’re a founder, investor, or just fascinated by the startup game, this episode offers a front-row seat to the evolution of Israel from “Startup Nation” to “Scale-Up Nation”, and the lessons learned along the way.Arik's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/arik-kleinstein/Glilot Capital Partners - https://www.linkedin.com/company/glilot-capital-partners/Steffen's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffenfoley/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

In this episode, we sit down with Ed Bellis, Founder of Kenna Security (acquired by Cisco) and now Co-Founder and CEO of Empirical Security, to unpack the highs, lows, and learnings from over two decades in cybersecurity.Ed shares:👉 The wild early days of Kenna, including near-bankruptcy and a failed “Kenna in a box” moment👉 His journey from CISO at Orbitz to founder, and the painful transition from practitioner to CEO👉 What went wrong — and right — with managed service partners and scaling go-to-market👉 Why Empirical is taking a radical approach: building thousands of custom AI models for each customer👉 His honest take on the AI hype wave (“everyone’s suddenly an AI company… really?”)👉 How he’s applying lessons from Kenna to build smarter, predictive security tailored to your data at Empirical Security Plus: advice for founders, raising early capital, and how not to blow your Series A runway.If you're building in cybersecurity, scaling a startup, or just love a good founder story - this one’s for you.Ed's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bellis/Empirical Security - https://www.empiricalsecurity.com/Joseph's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybercoops/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

In this episode of CyberBytes, Joseph sits down with Or Eshed, CEO & Co-founder of LayerX Security. Or shares his journey from serving in Israeli military intelligence, where he specialised in offensive security, to uncovering the world’s largest browser hijacking operation, and eventually founding LayerX – a company transforming browser security for enterprises.We cover:- How browser security has evolved over the past decade- The real risks behind AI tools and shadow SaaS apps- How LayerX protects companies from insider threats and data leaks- His vision to grow LayerX into a leading SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) giantIf you want to understand the future of browser security, SaaS adoption, and AI risks in simple, practical terms – this episode is for you.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights from cybersecurity founders and leaders.#cybersecurity #browsersecurity #AI #startup #LayerX #podcastOr's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/or-eshed/LayerX Security - https://www.linkedin.com/company/layerx-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 Zsolt Nemeth, the founder and CEO of R6 Security – a company redefining how we protect AI workloads and Kubernetes environments through moving target defence.From his early days to building a company now supporting large AI infrastructures with thousands of GPUs, he walks us through how R6 was born, why proactive security is so rare, and what’s coming next for AI security.If you're working in AI, Kubernetes, or building the future of proactive security, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.Zsolt's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zsoltnemeth/R6 Security - https://www.linkedin.com/company/r6-phoenix/posts/Joseph's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybercoops/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/