Rene-Sylvain Bedard is the CEO and founder of Indominus Managed Security, which is now participating in the Catalyst’s Cyber Challenge go-to-market program. Indominus is a managed security provider, protecting SMEs from cybercrime.
Learn more on their website: https://indominus.ms/en/
- Where does your story begin? What made you want to build a cybersecurity solution?
In the summer of 2022, I was at a CEO convention trying to pitch a concept where we could sell IT architecture as a product. And it was NOT working. Forty CEOs and zero interest.
At that same convention, I was on stage discussing what happens during a cybersecurity incident. Within 20 minutes, there they were: 150 CEOs, spellbound, shaken, and all understanding that they needed to get secure — and fast.
After a few days of introspection, we began a pivot. We were going to stop the bullies. We chose to use our Microsoft expertise and use it to defend those who could not defend themselves.
- Pitch your startup to us as if we’re someone who thinks cybercrime is “someone else’s problem.”
It’s the same thing as saying, “If there is a fire in my brand-new house, someone else will take care of it, and it will not impact me.” If you suffer a cyberattack, your company’s reputation will suffer. If data is stolen, you and your board will be the ones to be sued.
But there is also another reality. The fact is: you are currently limiting your company’s growth by not investing in cybersecurity — by seeing it as an expense instead of as a growth lever.
Larger customers and more exclusive suppliers will not do business with you unless you can demonstrate that you are a safe harbour — that you have the protections in place. Why? Because those protections manage the risks.
Same thing if you are looking to access government contracts. Do you have the cybersecurity certifications that are required? What would be the impact on your revenue if you had access to those contracts — if you could speed ahead of your competition?
- What’s the best question you’ve been asked about your startup, and what was your answer?
“Why would you want to limit your product to Microsoft?”
First, there are a few concepts in there worth unpacking. There is nothing limiting about having Microsoft as a partner, especially when it comes to building on the Microsoft stack. We are standing on the shoulder of a titan.
Furthermore, we believe — especially in cybersecurity — that less is more. How? By reducing the number of technologies we work with, we can derive more clarity, deeper understanding, and fewer blind spots. Those dark corners that no one in your company actually understands? Our expertise scares away the cybercriminals hiding there.
So when we put these two together, we get wonders. The stack we use is, in all cyber-defense products, systematically in the top quadrant.
- How is Cyber Challenge helping you right now?
Cyber Challenge is providing us with much-needed insights and a touch of experience — which is life-altering for our startup.
Notwithstanding the financial injection, which accelerated our product go-to-market strategy, we have been blessed with mentors and content that is way beyond our stage. We had the unique privilege to spend an entire day with Eldon Sprickerhoff, being coached on what it means to build a startup from zero to unicorn and to exit successfully.
We’ve been coached by experts in our sales strategy and expansion strategy. Having been through the various plans we are considering, the experts have shown us the caveats and answered our questions with honesty and candor.
- What’s the best-case outcome for your experience with Cyber Challenge?
We are looking to get partners that will help us adapt our product to the Life Sciences industry. That is our goal. We are building the next-generation, real-time, interactive audit for Microsoft 365. This will allow SME owners in Life Sciences and other verticals to meet their requirements more easily.
Our best case is walking out of the Cyber Challenge knowing that we are making a difference for a Small/Medium business in Life Sciences — and that we are showing others what can be achieved.
We definitely feel that Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst has put all of their energies into refining the program and bringing us the best value possible — which only means that the next cohort will be even better. And we see this as a virtuous circle.