Karthik Kannan is the Founder and CEO of Anvilogic, an AI-driven, threat detection automation platform that provides security operations teams much-needed automation in their detection use case development process.
Prior to Anvilogic, Karthik led the Security Analytics business at Splunk, following the acquisition of his previous company, Caspida, in 2015. Before co-founding Caspida in 2013, Karthik was a founding/executive member of other successful startups which were acquired by large, public corporations. He holds patents in the cyber-security and analytics spaces, and has made several public-forum presentations in the field of cyber-security, analytics, and big data. He has extensive experience in high tech general management, marketing, and product management and has previously worked at NetApp and Goldman Sachs.
Karthik is an active volunteer/contributor to programs benefiting the local community, such as providing food to the less-privileged, exploring shelter opportunities, and sponsoring educational opportunities for low-income communities within the Bay Area and his native India.
Hoping to learn more about his experience as a serial Founder and the advice he would give to the next generation of Entrepreneurs, we sat down with Karthik for a conversation.
You have been a serial Entrepreneur and founded several companies. What inspires you to start companies?
I am inspired by the desire to move the needle every single day and not waste time in analysis paralysis. I firmly believe that only startups can build nimbly and with precision, solutions to specific problems in the market. Larger companies either do not have the micro-vision to perceive or the ability or motivation to understand these problems. Startups with skilled teams can see and focus on the problem and solve the challenges with agility and openness (relative to the ecosystem), without the burden of large-company biases and bindings (mind and physical). The pride that comes from building value for customers gives you a high, felt only through the experience of creating products that customers want. Our customers' passion for using our products is evident when we talk to them and inspires our team to do more.
A huge motivator for me is the fact that I can run things to serve both employees and customers in the best way possible. When my team feels like they improved their life by coming and joining me, it's a tremendous unmatched feeling that I thrive on and makes me want to be successful for them.