Join us for Episode 61 of the Cybersecurity Matters Podcast as we sit down with Austin Gadient, CTO and Co-Founder of Vali Cyber, a company revolutionising Linux and hypervisor security. Austin shares his journey from the Air Force Academy’s competitive hacking team to securing the nation’s satellite infrastructure, and ultimately co-founding Vali Cyber after raising $20 million in funding.

In this conversation, we explore the critical security gaps Austin discovered while working with satellite systems in the US Air Force, the unique challenges of protecting Linux environments where traditional Windows-focused tools fall short, and how these real-world problems led to the creation of Vali Cyber. Austin discusses the father-son founding team dynamic, managing technical and business responsibilities as a startup CTO, and building a company culture that values diverse thinking and psychological safety.

Key Themes

• From hacking competitions to satellite security
• Linux security gaps in satellite systems
• Building startups with family as co-founders
• Prioritisation over balance in startup life
• Technical culture as a competitive advantage
• Leadership through listening, not commanding
• Hiring for learning ability over experience
• Hypervisor security as an emerging threat category
• Missionary selling in nascent markets
• Strategic investment for execution runway.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:04 Austin’s Journey into Cybersecurity
03:52 Founding Valley Cyber
06:23 Balancing Engineering and Business
08:26 Company Culture and Team Dynamics
10:59 Industry Diversity and Talent Acquisition
18:12 Hypervisor Security and Market Education
24:10 Future of Cybersecurity and Final Thoughts

About the Guest:
Austin Gadient is the CTO and Co-Founder of Vali Cyber, leading the development of high-performance Linux and hypervisor security solutions. He continues to serve as a Distinguished Security Engineer in the US Air Force Reserve, managing advanced space cyber capabilities. With experience securing satellite infrastructure and driving security research, Austin brings deep technical expertise to the emerging field of hypervisor security.

Website: www.valicyber.com

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