Equity CrowdStrike’s former CTO on cyber rivalries and how automation can undermine security for early-stage startups
13 snips
Jun 4, 2025 
Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder and former CTO of CrowdStrike, dives into the tumultuous world of cybersecurity and its implications for startups. He highlights key missteps regarding security that early-stage founders often make while racing to build. Alperovitch discusses how global rivalries, particularly with China, are reshaping innovation and outlines what investors seek in cybersecurity ventures today. He also warns of the dual-edged sword of AI, which can both bolster defenses and introduce new vulnerabilities.
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Founding CrowdStrike from Investigations
- Dmitri Alperovitch founded CrowdStrike after investigating Chinese government cyber intrusions targeting Google.
- His investigations revealed massive intellectual property theft across many industries by multiple nation-states.
Misjudging IP Theft Impact
- Early dismissals of Chinese theft as harmless to U.S. innovation proved myopic and ahistorical.
- China leveraged stolen IP to become a leader in key industries like electric vehicles and nuclear power.
Prepare for Inevitable Intrusions
- Companies must identify who might attack them and protect their crown jewels.
- Assume intrusions are inevitable; focus on rapid detection, damage limitation, and recovery.
