From Big to Small: A Tech Startup Story with Inception Cyber
In episode 20 of the Tech Startup Stories Podcast, our host Natalie Binns, reconnects with Bill Mann. Bill and Natalie first worked together at CA Technologies and then again at Centrify (now Delinea).
For Bill, leaving big tech wasn’t about escape, it was about having a big impact. After years of leading at some of the most recognisable names in cybersecurity, Bill stepped away from scale to start something smaller, sharper, and more focused. Inception Cyber didn’t begin with a deck or funding round, it started with a clear desire to cut through the noise and build something that actually helps people and businesses stay safe against continuous evolving threats.
It was time to stop talking about AI and cybersecurity as buzzwords and start solving the real, underlying problem.
Listen to the Podcast
Available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
Getting back to the problem
The company’s mission was clear from the start. Use AI to protect people and businesses from threats they don’t see, don’t understand, or don’t have time to deal with.
That meant stripping away complexity, not adding to it. It meant thinking about users first, not just enterprises. And it meant building tools that could actually support the everyday decisions that determine whether someone stays secure or gets compromised.
Bill and his co-founder weren’t trying to build a platform that did everything, they were trying to build something that did one thing brilliantly.
Building with focus
Inception Cyber’s early product development was all about discipline. Rather than racing to add features or chase the next integration, the team stayed focused on one thing: making it easier to detect and respond to real threats.
They listened to users, iterated quickly and they avoided the temptation to mimic enterprise competitors.
Bill talks openly about resisting the urge to grow too fast, too soon. Building a sustainable company, for him, means keeping the team lean, the priorities sharp, and the mission front and centre.
Lessons from the journey
Bill’s move from global C-suite to early-stage co-founder hasn’t been without challenges, but it has been a really positive experience.
He’s learned that simplicity scales better than complexity, clarity beats consensus. Doing less with more intention is often the hardest, but most important, choice a founder can make.
Inception Cyber isn’t trying to replace the big players, It’s trying to solve a simple but relentless problem and that’s a mission worth backing.
Listen to the Podcast
Available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
Inception Cyber is helping people make smarter, safer decisions using AI. To learn more or connect with Bill Mann, visit the Inception Cyber website or reach out on LinkedIn.
