Insights from our fireside chat with Pieter Danhieux and Daniel Potts at CiB18
As part of our innovation in cyber security session at Cyber in Business in Sydney, we hosted a fireside chat with Pieter Danhieux, CEO and Co-founder at Secure Code Warrior, and Daniel Potts, CEO at Cog Systems. Both are founders of fast-growing homegrown cyber security startups who are expanding globally. We’d just wrapped up our pitch session, and were keen to dig into what life is really like as a founder of a startup.
At CyRise, we really appreciate transparency and honest contribution, and found great value in the conversation that transpired. Kirstin McIntosh of CyRise chatted with the entrepreneurs and we’re sharing their nuggets of wisdom below.
On the challenges in running a startup:
Pieter:
There’s a new challenge every week! That’s the nature of a startup. But bouncing back from challenges or mistakes is key to progress. Trust and communication within the team makes navigating challenges that much easier, so be sure to take the time to work on those internal relationships.
Daniel:
Work/life balance. Striking that balance is not always possible, so awareness is key. Be aware so you can recalibrate.
On the highest highs:
Daniel:
The little things become our highest highs. For example, a bug-free launch as the result of meticulous work from our engineers. Whether it’s that or some other internal achievement, they’re the ones we celebrate the most because they mean something to the team.
Pieter:
The thrill of having someone pay for your product. And seeing the numbers increase over time, not only by the volume of customers, but the size of the contracts themselves! It’s validating and motivating.
A question from the audience: How do you continue to innovate?
Daniel:
We build it into our culture. We have a five-year strategic plan which we’re tracking.
Pieter:
Always seeking to be ahead of the competition. It pushes us to do better. We also have some team members working on long-term goals, while others work on short-term goals.
3 pieces of advice for those considering a startup:
Daniel:
- Don’t overthink it
- Just do it
- Figure out traction (how to grow and scale).
Pieter:
- Don’t think too much before doing it
- Before you build, work out if someone will buy it
- Don’t forget to have fun!
A key takeaway for us at CyRise?
It’s all about people. Pieter was clear in his point about the value of your community for success. Hire well, and hire people who are smarter than you. Seek out mentorship, even if it’s just a casual chat with someone over coffee. Learn from those who have done it before. Spend time with other founders who are dealing with many of the same growth issues you are, so you can have those frank conversations and share concerns you can’t always have internally as the leader.
Got a cyber security idea or startup? We can help connect you with mentors in the industry, find potential customers for your product, and accelerate your business progress. Chat to Scott, CEO at CyRise, to find out more.
