The recent FMLS saw me interview some hugely interesting industry figures. One of the more fascinating interviewees was Stav Pischits; serial seed investor, cybersecurity guru, former army medic, and an all-around nice guy.
The CEO and Founder of cybersecurity firm Cynance, the London-based Stav spoke enthusiastically about the "match-ups between the fintech scene and cybersecurity." Additionally, Stav is the Co-Founder of Cyber Club London (CCL): a community comprised of cybersecurity leaders and experts, with exposure to early-stage (Seed/ Series A) start-ups.
"The thing is, people don't really appreciate the commonalities between fintech and cyber security startups, and believe me, there are a lot of them," he asserted.
Stav Pischits on Fixing Cybersecurity in Crypto
When pressed on how to fix the hacking problem blighting crypto, Stav conceded: "Well, there is no Silver Bullet. There's nothing that can really fix these problems." However, he spoke of the need to implement cybersecurity procedures from the outset, particularly in protecting clients' data.
"Cyber security is something that should be implemented from day one all the way throughout the developer process and business engagement process," he said.
Stav Pischits Journey
Unlike many Israelis pioneering cybersecurity, Stav did not serve his mandatory time in the army in any of the elite intelligence and cybersecurity units like 8200. Instead, the softly-spoken family man served as a front-line medic. From paramedic to accountancy to cybersecurity at 26, to where he is today, Stav's story is one of hard work, dedication, and seizing opportunities.
"Now, cyber security is my second-best love after my wife and kids," he dutifully conceded.
Cybersecurity Trends
Stav ended the all-too-short interview by discussing the cybersecurity trends to look out for. He reiterated the 'no silver bullet' and the growing need for fintech and others to implement cybersecurity procedures from day one.
"There's no silver bullet as I said, but you will be in a much better situation."
And with that, my time was up and Stav wandered off to enjoy his first, but not last, FMLS.
Catch all my interviews and FMLS panels and keynote speeches here.
