Back to Directory

Published

Industry
Business/Productivity tool
Headquarters
Manchester
Employee Count
5
Year Founded
2022
Amount raised
£230k
Business model
Subscription, services
Early traction
21 users, £230k in the pipeline across 9 customers

Setting the Scene

  • In the 1960s, ethical hacking emerged to protect companies from cyberattacks.

    • Companies began hiring pen testing consultants to simulate attacks on their systems and identify vulnerabilities.

  • In today’s digital age, cyberattacks are an ever-present threat, and protecting against hackers has become critical.

    • Think of all the resourceful 14-year-olds hacking in their parents’ basements as we speak.👨‍💻

  • However, pen testing methods remain outdated, with consultants charging high costs for annual compliance tests and taking weeks to produce excessive reports.

  • This week’s company provides an automated platform with trusted pen testers to allow companies to run continuous security testing.

In a Sentence


Cytix
is a security testing platform that enables companies to continuously monitor technology assets throughout their workflow.

  • Security testing: Simulate real-world hacks to identify security weaknesses.

  • Monitor: A vulnerability management platform and a team of in-house ethical hackers offer timely tests and reports upon request.

  • Workflow: Integrates with AWS, GitHub, and more to allow continuous, time-effective security testing during development.

Bulleted Version

Similar to how a fitness tracker continually monitors your vitals, Cytix continually evaluates a company’s security vitals to expose vulnerabilities. ⌚️

Due Diligence

What We Like

  • 📝 Pen testing market: The pen testing market is valued at $1.4b, with a 13.7% annual growth rate driven by increasing demands for continuous testing at an accessible cost, increased hacker sophistication, and rising security regulations.

  • 👩‍💻 Broad end customer: Cytix serves a wide range of customers, helping small to enterprise customers meet industry-specific compliance requirements and prevent cyberattacks.

  • 👥 Platform + in-house testers: Cytix combines its platform with an in-house team of pen testers to provide customers with quality support throughout their development and growth.

Potential Risks

  • 🌎 Hackathon: Cytix faces competition from pen testing crowdsourcing platforms and automated security testing startups taking market share from traditional pen testing consultants.

    • Additionally, many large enterprises hire in-house ethical hackers.

  • 📈 Growing with customers: As more companies join the platform, Cytix must expand its network of pen testers to offer continuous and timely security tests.

    • Plus, Cytix must ensure it brings on trusted testers who have an understanding of the legal and ethical guidelines.

  • 🤝 Fast trust: Cytix must invest early in sales and marketing to build trust and credibility with potential customers in the highly competitive and sensitive industry.

Founder Profile

TB
Thomas Ballin
Previously worked at Secarma and NCC Group as a security consultant.
BA
Ben Armstrong
Previously worked at Secarma and NCC Group in sales.
MM
Matt Milan
Previously worked at Clenergy EV, Secarma, and Encircle Marketing as a software engineer.

Comps

WhyCytix

With a growing need for consistent security testing, a vulnerability management platform combined with a team of trusted testers, and strong early traction with customers across industries, we can attest to the company’s potential for growth. 🔐

*Nothing in this content constitutes investment or legal advice. Conduct independent diligence and consult professional advisers before making investment decisions.*

Explore other features

SF

2026-10-28

Talp

Talp is an AI-powered customer simulation platform that helps businesses predict how customers might respond to pricing changes, product launches, and marketing campaigns before making those decisions.

Business model

Annual B2B contracts

Read More: Talp

NYC

2026-10-13

Snag

Snag is a socially-native marketplace for apartments that helps renters discover, verify, and pay for flexible rentals.

Business model

Fees taken on rent processed through the marketplace

Read More: Snag

NYC

2026-09-29

Ophelia

Ophelia is the discovery, authentication, and transaction layer that lets AI agents securely act on your behalf without relying on web browsers.

Business model

Usage-based API pricing tied to confirmed outcomes

Read More: Ophelia