Building a Cybersecurity Company? Start Here.
Building a Cybersecurity Company? Start Here.
Early-stage and aspiring cybersecurity founders are invited to an intimate, candid session with Michael Coates on what it actually takes to build and fund a successful security startup.
This is a practical, no-fluff conversation covering:
Fundraising at pre-seed and seed — what investors really look for in cybersecurity and how to stand out in a crowded market
Selling to CISOs early — how to land your first design partners and turn early believers into customers
Common founder pitfalls — mistakes that quietly kill promising security startups (and how to avoid them)
Before you quit your day job — what “future founders” should have in place before making the leap
Whether you’re already building or seriously considering it, this session is designed to help you move faster—and avoid painful, expensive detours.
About Michael Coates
Michael Coates is the founding partner of Seven Hill Ventures, an early-stage venture firm focused exclusively on cybersecurity.
He brings an operator’s perspective, having served as CISO at Twitter, Mozilla, and CoinList, and as the co-founder of Altitude Networks. More recently, Michael testified before a joint congressional subcommittee in Washington, DC on the impact of AI, cybersecurity, and quantum encryption.
Michael works closely with early-stage founders and CISOs every day—and brings a rare combination of technical depth, operator experience, and investor insight to the conversation.
Hosted by AngelList at Founders Cafe!
AngelList builds the software investors use to fund world-changing startups. Founders Cafe is our founder community and co-working space on the first floor of HQ. Apply here.