Ex nihilo - Martin Burckhardt

Ex nihilo by Martin Burckhardt explores the intersections of philosophy, technology, and society, critically examining modern challenges such as sustainability, the impact of digitalization, and the influence of historical events and figures on contemporary thought. The Substack offers reflections on personal experiences, societal transformations, and the philosophical underpinnings of modern issues.

Philosophy and Society Technology and Digitalization Sustainability and Climate Change Historical Events and Personal Experiences Critical Media Analysis Political Theory and Movements Education and Parenting Economic Critiques and Capitalism Psychology and Human Behavior Creativity and Imagination

The hottest Substack posts of Ex nihilo - Martin Burckhardt

And their main takeaways

We Need More FUD

18 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Risk management Data Breaches
  1. CISOs should not adopt the board's language but focus on educating and evoking emotions to get support
  2. Board members often make decisions based on emotions rather than data or risk metrics
  3. Instilling fear through education can be an effective way for CISOs to get the necessary resources

Using the Dashboard to Discover Investment Trends.

8 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
💰 Finance Investment Trends
  1. IT-Harvest uses no-code methodologies and OpenAI to quickly add features to their Dashboard.
  2. The Dashboard rapidly evolves with UI changes and enhancements based on user suggestions.
  3. The latest feature allows users to examine investment trends by analyzing portfolios of VCs and PE firms, giving insights into categories and accelerated interests.

Cybersecurity Pioneers

13 implied HN points • 15 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Entrepreneurs History Identity
  1. The Security Yearbook 2023 highlights the personal stories of cybersecurity pioneers.
  2. Cybersecurity pioneers like Gil Shwed, Eva Chen, and Kailash Katkar have made significant impacts on the industry.
  3. The industry's history includes key figures like Barry Schrager, Marty Roesch, and other notable contributors.

2022 M&A in Cybersecurity

15 implied HN points • 02 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Mergers & Acquisitions Public Companies Private Equity Cloud Security
  1. In 2022, the cybersecurity industry saw 332 acquisitions, with the largest deal being VMware acquired by Broadcom for $60 billion.
  2. Most of the acquisitions in 2022 were strategic, where one vendor acquired another, like Google buying Mandiant.
  3. Special Purpose Acquisition Corps (SPACs) were used for acquiring cybersecurity companies, with notable large deals taking advantage of lower valuations.
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Women in Cyber

15 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Gender Diversity
  1. 72 cybersecurity vendors have female CEOs, making up 2.1% of the total.
  2. The US has the highest number of cybersecurity companies with female CEOs at 44.
  3. There is hope for more female-led cybersecurity vendors in the future.

India Is an Emerging Hotbed of Cybersecurity Startups

16 implied HN points • 02 Jan 23
  1. India has 124 cybersecurity startups, showing a growing industry presence.
  2. Successful exits in India are motivating other founders to enter the cybersecurity market.
  3. India ranks sixth globally in cybersecurity companies, with potential for more growth.

A Very Short History of The Last 12 Months

15 implied HN points • 08 Jan 23
  1. Started with an intern for a cybersecurity project
  2. Switched from Airtable to Bubble for dashboard development
  3. Transitioned to Xano for better security and monthly subscriptions

API Security Sector Grew 47% in 2022

13 implied HN points • 22 Jan 23
  1. API Security sector grew 47% in 2022, showing rapid growth in the industry
  2. APIs are crucial connections in the modern web, but security risks arise if not handled properly
  3. There are 31 specialized vendors in API Security solutions and market is estimated to reach $1 billion in three years

Investments in Cybersecurity Top $17 Billion in 2022

13 implied HN points • 31 Dec 22
  1. Investments in cybersecurity exceeded $17 billion in 2022, marking a 65% increase from 2020.
  2. Despite predictions, the cybersecurity industry had a successful year with substantial investments.
  3. The cybersecurity industry demonstrated growth in 2022, with many vendors experiencing over 25% growth.

A Walk-through of The Only Platform for Cybersecurity Research

13 implied HN points • 26 Nov 22
  1. The platform offers a unique way to filter cybersecurity vendors by specific criteria.
  2. Users can easily access detailed information about specific vendors.
  3. The tool allows users to explore a wide range of cybersecurity news from different sources.

Looking at RSA Conference 2023

13 implied HN points • 22 Nov 22
  1. IT-Harvest is updating their research platform for upcoming conferences like RSA Conference 2023.
  2. RSA Conference 2023 will have 215 vendors from 22 countries, representing various categories.
  3. An upcoming feature on IT-Harvest will introduce Grouping and Sub-categorization for better analysis.

Not Too Shabby

13 implied HN points • 15 Oct 22
  1. 2022 is on track to exceed $16 billion in new cybersecurity investments.
  2. Identity and API security led in growth in Q3.
  3. Investments in cybersecurity companies continue to show healthy growth despite economic uncertainties.

Shift Left is NOT the Solution to the SolarWinds problem

11 implied HN points • 14 Dec 22
  1. Shift Left is NOT the solution to the SolarWinds problem.
  2. Software updates can be a security risk, despite the emphasis on immediate patching.
  3. A new approach may be needed to secure software updates effectively.

2022 Cybersecurity Startups

10 implied HN points • 30 Jan 23
  1. Perceived economic downturn can be a good time to launch a startup
  2. Many of the 2022 cybersecurity startups received significant seed funding
  3. Several cybersecurity companies founded during economic downturns have survived and thrived

Booming UK Cybersecurity Industry

10 implied HN points • 12 Jan 23
  1. UK ranks #3 in vendors of cybersecurity products
  2. Fastest growing cybersecurity company is Next DLP
  3. $412 million invested in 20 UK cybersecurity companies last year

Are Conferences Worth It?

8 implied HN points • 08 Feb 23
  1. Exhibiting at conferences can offer benefits beyond filling a sales funnel like brand awareness and partnering.
  2. Conferences can be a good place to meet potential partners, job seekers, and investors.
  3. Consider the financial implications and alternative methods of engagement, but do not underestimate the value of presence.

Adding a Category to the Analyst Dashboard

6 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Security Dashboard
  1. Adding a new category called Posture Management to the Analyst Dashboard
  2. The new category will encompass vulnerability management, configuration management, asset management, cloud security posture management, and attack surface management
  3. The Analyst Dashboard subscribers will now be able to track investment, revenue, and headcount changes for each category

Catching the ChatGPT Wave

8 implied HN points • 21 Jan 23
  1. Discovering new technologies can be game-changing, like the internet in 1992.
  2. Utilizing large language models such as GPT-3 can significantly enhance research and productivity in various industries.
  3. Automation through AI can streamline data collection and analysis processes, saving time and resources.

What Happens to a Cybersecurity Vendor When it is Acquired?

8 implied HN points • 11 Dec 22
  1. Cybersecurity vendors can be acquired in different ways, like strategic acquisitions.
  2. After acquisition, the fate of the vendor's brand and employees varies.
  3. Private equity firms may play a significant role in acquiring and reshaping cybersecurity vendors.

Selling To Cybersecurity

6 implied HN points • 06 Feb 23
  1. The cybersecurity industry is a complex ecosystem with various services and data being sold among companies.
  2. Participating in major cybersecurity events indicates a healthy and thriving company, making it a good indicator for potential sponsors or partners.
  3. Vendors in the cybersecurity industry often sell products, data, and services to other vendors through OEM relationships or compliance assistance.

Do Your Own Cybersecurity Research

6 implied HN points • 12 Nov 22
  1. Do your own cybersecurity research - you can be an industry analyst
  2. Utilize a dashboard to quickly answer questions for yourself
  3. Consider how a research platform can help you get answers and insights faster

What is the Average Age of Cybsersecurity Companies?

5 implied HN points • 01 Feb 23
  1. There are many cybersecurity vendors, with around 10% going through acquisitions each year.
  2. It takes a couple of years for new cybersecurity startups to be discovered.
  3. The average age of cybersecurity vendors founded after 1982 is 12.3 years.

Introducing Monthly Access to the IT-Harvest Platform

5 implied HN points • 07 Dec 22
  1. Soft launch of monthly subscriptions for IT-Harvest Platform to known users first to prevent misuse.
  2. Monthly subscription offers full access to data on 3,188+ cybersecurity vendors and ability to download 500 vendor records monthly.
  3. Monthly subscriptions receive the same support as annual and include one call a month for advisory services.

Scaling SaaS for a Cybersecurity Industry Research Tool

5 implied HN points • 30 Oct 22
  1. The IT-Harvest Dashboard is ready to scale for the cybersecurity industry research tool.
  2. Introducing a monthly subscription option to add flexibility and value to users.
  3. Offering a full-featured trial account and implementing a monthly subscription tier for immediate access to data and features.

Reproducing DataQuest for Cybersecurity

5 implied HN points • 22 Oct 22
  1. IT-Harvest aims to recreate the functionality of DataQuest for cybersecurity industry.
  2. Feedly's AI is used to gather news on specific companies for IT-Harvest Dashboard.
  3. Explore page allows subscribers to filter vendors quickly based on various criteria like funding and category.

There Is No Such Thing As a Cybersecurity Platform

2 HN points • 21 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity
  1. Enterprises do not want to buy all cybersecurity solutions from a single vendor, showing no appetite for it after past experiences.
  2. It is crucial to have the best cybersecurity defenses in place to protect against real threats, even if it means not opting for a unified 'platform' solution.
  3. Past instances with vendors like Symantec and McAfee caution against getting locked into a single vendor's ecosystem due to risks of stagnation and lack of innovation.

Creating a SaaS app for tracking the entire cybersecurity industry.

6 implied HN points • 03 Apr 22
  1. A new SaaS app is created for tracking the cybersecurity industry
  2. The app serves the investment community with data and analysis services
  3. Different user groups like marketers, corporate development, and investment bankers benefit from the app

The Analyst Dashboard

5 implied HN points • 17 Jul 22
  1. The Analyst Dashboard evolved into a fully featured SaaS product with expanding features and datasets.
  2. The complete data set on 2,874 vendors is useful for investors, analyst firms, corporate development teams, competitive intelligence teams, and marketers in the cybersecurity industry.
  3. New features added include event participation tracking, awards search function, and a spotlight feature for insights.

How Public Cybersecurity Companies Performed in 1H 2021

3 implied HN points • 06 Sep 21
  1. 20 cybersecurity companies increased in valuation by 13% to $265.62 billion in 1H 2021.
  2. Crowdstrike remains the largest cybersecurity company with a market cap of $56.72 billion.
  3. Fortinet experienced remarkable growth, surpassing Palo Alto Networks in market cap in the first half of 2021.

Nocode is Changing Everything

1 implied HN point • 16 Jun 22
  1. Typing pools were common for typing and secretarial work, but disappeared with word processors.
  2. Introduction of CAD in design work reduced errors and increased efficiency.
  3. Nocode tools, like Bubble.io, are revolutionizing app development by allowing creation without coding.

Is Cybersecurity Recession Proof?

1 implied HN point • 24 May 22
  1. Stock market is showing a decrease in cybersecurity stock valuations despite the demand for cybersecurity remaining high.
  2. During recessions, enterprise spending on security may decrease, but cybersecurity remains a long-term investment opportunity.
  3. The collapse of Russia might lead to reduced cybercrime, impacting cybersecurity spending, but cybersecurity will continue to grow with technological advancements.

Four Step Vendor Viability Checklist

1 implied HN point • 18 Sep 20
  1. The post outlines a Four Step Vendor Viability Checklist.
  2. The checklist can be reviewed from home in four quick steps.
  3. The checklist is a helpful tool for assessing a vendor's viability.

Industry Analyst Firms: The Numbers

1 implied HN point • 02 Aug 20
  1. Gartner is the largest analyst firm with 1,008 analysts.
  2. Revenue per employee is a good way to judge a company's strength.
  3. Different analyst firms have varying revenue per analyst and business models.

Pulling Together the History of Cybersecurity in 2020

0 implied HN points • 22 Mar 21
  1. The year 2020 in cybersecurity was marked by significant events like COVID-19 and the SolarWinds breach.
  2. Digital transformation and zero trust network access were key trends in 2020, driving growth in companies like Zscaler, Netskope, and Perimeter 81.
  3. 2020 saw a substantial increase in funding for cybersecurity vendors, along with numerous mergers and acquisitions, showcasing a thriving industry despite the challenges.