Ep. 11 - How to Start a Successful Pentesting Company: Pujan Shah and Daniel Amidon Co-Founders of ApolloGuard

Hackers to Founders

Want to start your own pentesting consultancy/business? Listen how ApolloGuard created their own pentesting company, offering high-value services in a competitive market.

The podcast explores the journey of Daniel Amidon and Pujan Shah, co-founders of ApolloGuard, a cybersecurity company specializing in offensive security. Daniel shares his transition from being a self-taught hacker mentored in vulnerability research to becoming a cybersecurity entrepreneur. Pujan highlights his path from studying computer science and working in various industries like healthcare and venture capital to co-founding ApolloGuard. Their partnership is built on complementary skills: Daniel’s technical expertise and Pujan’s operational and strategic vision. Together, they emphasize the importance of proactive security measures and building trust with clients.

The discussion also dives into how ApolloGuard operates, blending technical depth with business agility. They share insights on starting a pen-testing firm, from leveraging existing networks for early clients to addressing the gap between compliance-driven testing and meaningful security solutions. The founders stress the value of persistence, innovation, and relationships in growing a security company while staying true to their mission of providing high-quality, actionable insights to clients.

Guests
Pujan Shah - Co-Founder & CEO
Daniel Amidon - Co-Founder & CTO

Company
ApolloGuard Website
Hackers to Founders Website - https://HackersToFounders.com

Books Mentioned

1. Your Next Five Moves - Patrick Bet-David
2. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck - Mark Manson
3. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey
4. The Four Hour Work Week - Tim Ferriss
5. The Obstacle Is the Way - Ryan Holiday
6. Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell

Businesses Mentioned

1. DEFCON - Hacker & InfoSec Conference
2. StockX - Website to buy rare shoes