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Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech’s most innovative B2B founders. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Sivan Tehila, CEO and founder of Onyxia, a cybersecurity performance management platform that has raised $5 million in funding.
Sivan highlights how recent SEC regulations requiring companies to disclose security incidents, programs, and strategies have increased demand for Onyxia's solution. By staying attuned to the regulatory landscape and proactively positioning your product as a compliance enabler, you can ride the wave of urgency and budget allocation that often follows new mandates. Founders should monitor relevant regulations and adapt their messaging accordingly.
In her first fundraising experience, Sivan learned the value of building genuine relationships with investors who bring more than just capital to the table. Rather than chasing big-name firms, she focused on finding investors who believed in her vision, provided valuable expertise, and made meaningful introductions. Founders should prioritize investor fit and long-term value alignment over short-term signaling.
To stand out in the noisy cybersecurity market, Sivan emphasizes the importance of crisply defining the specific problem you're solving and articulating why your approach is unique. By avoiding generic buzzwords and focusing on tangible customer pain points, you can cut through the clutter and capture investor attention. Founders should strive for clarity and precision in their problem statements.
Onyxia differentiates itself by offering a mobile app that enables CISOs to quickly access key insights and manage their security efforts on the go. By designing for the unique needs and workflows of executive users, the company creates a stickier and more valuable experience. Founders should consider how mobile-first design can empower their target personas and drive adoption.
While acknowledging the influence of analyst firms like Gartner in shaping market categories, Sivan cautions against building products solely to align with their frameworks. Instead, she advises founders to stay laser-focused on solving real customer problems and trust that the category definitions will evolve to reflect the value they deliver. Don't let analyst taxonomies dictate your roadmap at the expense of customer needs.