We hear a lot about Cybersecurity tools lately. However, with the proliferation of technologies in our business and personal lives, we need even more to address the problem of increasing cyber risks these technologies introduce.
Cybersecurity startups have tried to fill the current void to an extent by providing quick and point solutions that address a lot of problems that larger companies are not yet tackling– startups nimbleness is very advantageous here.
These cybersecurity startups are not uniformly dispersed geographically though. Instead, they are concentrated in a handful of geographies, which are considered conducive environments for their successes.
When we dig deeper into the successes of these geographies in creating such a vibrant Cybersecurity Startup Ecosystem, we do see commonalities of existence of certain contributors:
- Incubators
- Accelerators
- Early Investors
- Design Partners
- Early Adopters
- Marketing Partners
- R&D Partners
The successes can be replicated in other geographies if such an ecosystem is created.
In addition to the big roles of City/State governments and Chambers of Commerce, the role of cybersecurity practitioners in creating such an environment cannot be overstated. They have the catalytic roles to play in getting all these seven groups in motion.
Cybersecurity practitioners are knowledgeable in the subject matters. Just like we cannot imagine running a healthcare startup ecosystem without healthcare practitioners, we cannot have a successful Cybersecurity Startup Ecosystem without primary involvement of cybersecurity practitioners.
How to get involved:
Below are some avenues for cybersecurity practitioners to get involved in the ecosystem:
1. Advisor & Mentor
a. Incubation & Acceleration:
i. Definition of a problem
ii. Checking/Validating assumptions
iii. Checking/Validating whether solution may address the problem
2. Early Investor
a. Engaging employer as an investor
b. Angel investor
c. Through venture capital firms
3. Design Partners & Early Adopters
a. Providing use cases
b. Validating use cases
c. Use Acceptance Testing
4. Marketing Partners
a. Product/Solution Endorsement
5. R&D Partners
a. Use cases research & development
b. Apprenticeship/Internships on R&D with Universities/Colleges
Benefits to a cyber practitioner by such involvement:
1. Opportunity to shape the solution to address the real problem
2. Early and/or discounted access to a product/solution
3. Investment and/or equity opportunities
When engaged with the cybersecurity startup ecosystem this way, a cybersecurity practitioner can also gain knowledge in the area that is not available in his/her normal course of business. That experience and knowledge may also position him/her for a future director and/or advisor role.
How to get involved now:
- Be a mentor/advisor in a cybersecurity accelerator program.
There may be numerous cybersecurity accelerator programs across the country.
- Help identify the companies who could benefit from being in a cybersecurity accelerator program.
One program which will be accepting applications for the next cohort starting June 2024 can be accessed here: 2024 Fuel Cybersecurity Accelerator Application.
- Help identify the companies who have a good product but having hard time raising funds.
