ETHIACK Company Profile

Background

Overview

ETHIACK is a cybersecurity startup founded in 2022 by André Baptista, Jorge Monteiro, and Vítor Pinho. The company specializes in autonomous ethical hacking, combining artificial intelligence (AI) with human expertise to provide continuous security testing for digital assets. ETHIACK's mission is to proactively identify and mitigate vulnerabilities, enhancing the security posture of organizations worldwide. The company is headquartered in Coimbra, Portugal.

Mission and Vision

ETHIACK aims to revolutionize cybersecurity by integrating AI-driven solutions with ethical hacking practices. The company's vision is to create a safer digital environment by offering continuous, real-time security assessments that empower organizations to address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

Industry Significance

In just two years, ETHIACK has tested over 150,000 digital assets, identifying critical vulnerabilities in approximately 20% of high-priority systems. This rapid growth underscores the company's significant impact on the cybersecurity industry, providing innovative solutions that address the evolving challenges of digital security.

Key Strategic Focus

Core Objectives

Continuous Security Testing: Implementing AI-powered pentesting agents to provide ongoing, real-time security assessments.

Vulnerability Management: Identifying, prioritizing, and mitigating vulnerabilities across digital infrastructures.

Compliance Reporting: Generating reports that assist organizations in meeting cybersecurity regulations such as ISO27001, SOC2, and NIS2.

Areas of Specialization

Automated Pentesting: Utilizing AI to perform continuous penetration testing with high accuracy and minimal false positives.

External and Internal Attack Surface Management: Providing comprehensive visibility and management of both external and internal digital assets.

Human Hacking Events: Conducting elite human hacking events to uncover critical vulnerabilities that automated tools may miss.

Key Technologies Utilized

AI-Powered Pentesting Agents (Hackians): Autonomous agents that simulate real-world attack scenarios to identify vulnerabilities.

Continuous Attack Surface Management: Tools that map and monitor digital assets to detect and secure unknown assets and shadow IT.

Compliance Automation: Systems that generate compliance-ready reports to assist organizations in adhering to cybersecurity standards.

Primary Markets Targeted

United Kingdom and Europe: Expanding presence to address the growing demand for proactive cybersecurity solutions.

United States and Middle East: Exploring opportunities to offer services in these regions, leveraging the scalability of AI-driven security testing.

Financials and Funding

Funding History

Seed Round (December 2024): ETHIACK raised €4 million in a seed funding round led by Explorer Investments, with participation from CoreAngels, Paulo Marques, Startup Wise Guys, Aralab, Amena Ventures, and Start Ventures.

Utilization of Capital

Technology Development: Enhancing the capabilities of AI-powered Hackbots for continuous pentesting.

Market Expansion: Establishing a presence in the UK, Europe, and exploring entry into the US and Middle East markets.

Pipeline Development

Key Pipeline Candidates

Hackbot: An AI-driven autonomous ethical hacking agent designed to perform continuous penetration testing, identify complex vulnerabilities, and generate compliance reports.

Stages of Development

Research and Development: Ongoing enhancement of Hackbot's capabilities to simulate advanced attack scenarios and improve detection accuracy.

Market Deployment: Expanding the deployment of Hackbot in new markets, starting with the UK and Europe.

Target Conditions

Digital Infrastructure Vulnerabilities: Addressing security gaps in both external and internal digital assets.

Compliance Requirements: Assisting organizations in meeting cybersecurity regulations such as ISO27001, SOC2, and NIS2.

Anticipated Milestones

Enhanced Detection Capabilities: Achieving higher accuracy in identifying critical vulnerabilities, including zero-day threats.

Geographical Expansion: Establishing a foothold in the UK and Europe, with plans to enter the US and Middle East markets.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Proprietary Technologies

Hackians: AI-powered pentesting agents that autonomously perform continuous security assessments.

Continuous Attack Surface Management Tools: Platforms that provide real-time mapping and monitoring of digital assets to identify and secure vulnerabilities.

Significant Scientific Methods

Agentic AI Pentesting: Utilizing AI agents to simulate real-world attack scenarios, enhancing the depth and frequency of security testing.

Continuous Testing and Exploitation: Implementing event-driven testing triggered by code changes or infrastructure modifications to proactively discover vulnerabilities.

Leadership Team

Executive Profiles

André Baptista (CTO / Co-founder): Recognized as the "Most Valuable Hacker," André has secured organizations like Shopify, Verizon, and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Jorge Monteiro (CEO / Co-founder): An aerospace engineer with a background in business ventures, Jorge co-founded ETHIACK to address the growing challenges in cybersecurity.

Vítor Pinho (CCSO / Co-founder): Serving as the Chief Customer Security Officer, Vítor plays a pivotal role in ensuring the security and satisfaction of ETHIACK's clients.

Key Contributions

André Baptista: Led the development of Hackians, integrating AI with ethical hacking practices to enhance security testing.

Jorge Monteiro: Guided the strategic direction of ETHIACK, focusing on market expansion and technological innovation.

Vítor Pinho: Ensured the alignment of ETHIACK's services with client needs, fostering strong customer relationships.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The cybersecurity industry is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increasing digitalization and the rising frequency of cyber threats. Organizations are seeking proactive solutions to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities, creating a demand for continuous security testing services.

Competitor Analysis

Traditional Penetration Testing Firms: Offer periodic security assessments but may lack the frequency and depth provided by AI-driven solutions.

Automated Security Testing Platforms: Provide automated scanning but may generate false positives and lack the nuanced understanding of human-led testing.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

ETHIACK has established partnerships with investors such as Explorer Investments, CoreAngels, and Startup Wise Guys, which have been instrumental in supporting the company's growth and technological advancements.

Operational Insights

ETHIACK differentiates itself by combining AI-driven automation with human expertise, offering continuous, real-time security assessments that address the limitations of traditional testing methods. This approach enables organizations to proactively identify and mitigate vulnerabilities, enhancing their overall security posture.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

Strategic Roadmap

Product Enhancement: Continuing to develop and refine Hackbot to simulate advanced attack scenarios and improve detection capabilities.

Market Expansion: Establishing a presence in the UK and Europe, with plans to enter the US and Middle East markets.

Regulatory Compliance: Assisting organizations in meeting evolving cybersecurity regulations through comprehensive compliance reporting.

Future Business Directions

ETHIACK aims to lead the cybersecurity industry by providing innovative, AI-driven solutions that offer continuous, real-time security assessments. The company plans to expand its global footprint, addressing the growing demand for proactive cybersecurity measures.