rss-bridge 2010-02-15T13:03:47+00:00

SensePost Ten Years Old

After ten fascinating years, during which many people have contributed in so many ways to the place that is SensePost, by strange coincidence it falls on me to pen the words that mark our first decade in existence. To quote Robert Hunter: “What a long strange trip it’s been”. SensePost was officially founded on February 14, 2000. Of everyone who was involved at that time, I’m the only one still working here, which earns me the dubious honor of ‘oldest employee’. Do I get a gold watch? I meant to think much more over the last few weeks and months about how we should celebrate this day, or what I would write in a letter like this, but in the end (business being business) I’m writing this in a rush on a Sunday evening, with another three big things to complete before I allow myself to go to bed. Then again much of our success (in so far as we’ve been a success) happened in hurry on a Sunday night, so let’s not write this little piece off too soon, shall we?

The vision for SensePost developed between myself and Roelof Temmingh late in 1999. To be fair, Roelof was by far the more skilled and experienced at that time, and the notion of a commercial venture rooted in computer hacking as a service was born primarily with him. But I like to think I played a small part in shaping and molding the ideas that formed during the early part of that summer. Certainly I believe it was my epiphany that as long as we waited for others to make the calls, we would never never really be in charge of our own destiny, that finally convinced us to leave our jobs and set out on this new venture. It was the height of the ‘dotcom’ boom, we knew more about everything than anyone, and we thought we’d be rich before two years were out. Of course it wasn’t that simple, but its been a crazy happy journey nevertheless and I don’t regret a minute of it.

It wasn’t all about money of course. There was also a dream. We saw a small group of people, technical, hard working, passionate about computers and security, and with poor fashion sense. We had wild ideas about a grunge-style internet cafe with drinks named after shell commands, big screens and 70’s pop. I also recall some discussions about a scooter with a fax machine mounted on it, but we won’t go there. Basically, we had no idea what we were doing. Yup. Roelof and I had passion, idealism, energy, a whole lot of arrogance, and a little bit of skill, but not much more. We were 24 years old, had about US$ 6,000 between us, and probably barely enough collective business acumen to open a cheque account.

Help came from a very unexpected place. As it turned out the managing director of the company we were leaving, an ueber-suite, the boss of our boss, public enemy number one, prime-evil himself, had resigned the company just weeks before we did. His name is Luc de Graeve and instead of calling down the gods of corporate South Africa to punish us for our insolence, he kindly and gently offered us advice and support, which we eventually, suspiciously, accepted. And so was formed a relationship that would culminate with Luc becoming a major shareholder and our managing director for eight years until after we eventually sold to Secure Data in 2008.

In the sidelines at that time, but a secret member of our troupe right from the start, was Chris Erasmus. Chris has joined a team Roelof was starting at our previous company and we promised to invite him in the moment SensePost was on its feet. And so Chris joined us as a shareholder only a few short months after we started. Although Chris was the first of the founders to leave, he played a formative role in establishing our culture, values and identify. His sincere manner and unique stye left an indelible impression on each of us and on the business itself that can still be felt today.

And then there was Jaco. Jaco van Graan had also worked with Roelof, Luc and me, but had left before the rest of us to take a security job at a major ISP. On the side, he and two friends had started an accounting and audit practice called TJC. They planned to specialize in helping small businesses like ours and approached us with a very attractive proposal. Before too long Jaco would join us as ‘financial director’ and BS 7799 specialist. We wondered at the time whether it wasn’t too soon to require a full time financial manager, but the indisputable balance and control we’ve had in all our financial and commercial matters since that day testify that it was the right call.

Next join our team was Haroon Meer. We met him online while he worked at Durban university and invited him to come visit us at the ‘office’ we ran out of Roelof’s master bedroom. He soon went on to join the directors and eventually become our technical director and in many ways the heart and soul of our business. After I finish writing this post, I have to write some words for his farewell. His contract with Secure Data has expired and he’s moving on to his next big adventure. I sincerely wish him well, but already miss him dearly.

The contract I’m referring to with Secure Data is part of the purchase agreement with them. Under that agreement three of the shareholders – myself, Haroon and Jaco – were obliged to stay for a fixed term after the purchase. That period has not yet ended, but Secure Data has allowed for him to break a little early. In this, and many other things, Secure Data has been a good partner to us. The decision to sell the business back in 2008 was a not an easy one and we entered into the deal and subsequent contract period with more than a little trepidation. But Dean and Johan have understood us well and have graciously allowed us to continue being who we are. Thus, I say with confidence, that nothing has changed in our culture or values since joining Secure Data. I suspect this is unusual in such cases, and I’m extremely grateful for it. Indeed, Dean has proven to be wise and insightful leader.

So our tenth birthday also marks the end of our journey with Haroon. Of the original people, only myself and Jaco now remain. I feel I’ve said goodbye to too many people over the past decade. I hate it. But I’ve also come to learn that the business is bigger than any individual one of us. Each time somebody leaves I dread it, and each time we somehow survive. Over the years the business has grown from strength to strength and today we boast much more skill, energy and talent than Roelof, Haroon, Chris, Luc, Jaco or I ever had.

Time doesn’t allow me to tell the whole SensePost story in detail and I guess there’s really not all that much to tell. But there are some players I just have to mention: My deepest love and respect to Roelof – my friend and mentor – and Luc – long our leader and the biggest set of footsteps anyone ever had to follow. @haroonmeer – I’ve already said how much I’ll miss you. Chris – I hope to see you again soon. Kim, Gareth, Lizelle, Christoff, Herman, Jacof, Nithen, George, BradleyW, Craig, Lohan, Frank, James, Glenn – thank you all sharing a part of your journeys with us. And to our customers: I can’t mention you by name, but some of you have supported us from the very beginning, and all of you have been gracious, patient, loyal and extremely supportive. Thank you! Without you we would lack any meaning. And I must mention … Black Hat. Ping and Jeff gave us a chance when nobody had to, and opened up the door that would eventually allow us to become a truly global company with customers on all five continents. Thank you Ping and Jeff. My hope is only that we can give people the kind of leg-up that Black Hat gave us.

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