In this episode of Cyber Security District, we sit down with Niek Waarbroek (Founder & CTO) and Tycho Klessens (CEO) of Florbs, a Dutch startup transforming file security inside Google Workspace. What started as a simple set of admin scripts has evolved into a powerful SaaS platform, used by global enterprises to automate onboarding, offboarding, and prevent accidental (or malicious) data leaks. Niek shares how his frustrations with error-prone onboarding flows inspired him to build smarter tools, and how a lack of visibility into shared files became a real security threat for many organizations. After bootstrapping Florbs for three years, he crossed paths with Tycho, then a VC investor, who not only became the commercial co-founder, but helped raise €1 million to scale the team. Together, they discuss the power of building with product-led growth, how they’re scaling without wasting capital, and why real file security goes beyond Google’s default settings. They also explain why early-stage cybersecurity startups need more than funding, including focus, clarity, and the right partner chemistry. In this episode, we cover: The original problem Florbs set out to solve inside Google Workspace Why offboarding is one of the biggest overlooked security gaps How ex-employees still access company data without detection From custom scripts to a full-fledged SaaS product Product-led growth without a sales team or marketing budget Raising €1 million from angel investors and CISOs Going from solo founder to building a complementary co-founder team How they’re building safe, reversible file actions with real-time insights Expanding into AI-powered detection and cross-platform collaboration security Lessons learned transitioning from VC investor to cybersecurity CEO Whether you're a CISO, founder, or operator working in Google Workspace or building a startup yourself, this episode shows how automation and visibility can finally close one of the biggest blind spots in modern file security.   Timestamps:00:00 – Intro01:15 – What Inspired Florbs: The Google Workspace Problem03:40 – Why Onboarding & Offboarding Create Risk06:00 – Real-World Cases: Ex-Employees Accessing Confidential Docs08:45 – Building from Admin Scripts to Full Product11:30 – Why Google Alone Doesn’t Cut It for File Security14:50 – The Origins of the Name “Florbs”18:10 – Google Developer Expert Status & Product-Led Growth21:00 – Meeting Tycho: From VC Investor to Co-Founder25:30 – The First Pitch, the Missed Investment & The Unexpected Partnership30:40 – Raising Smart Capital (Not Just Any Capital)34:00 – Scaling Carefully: Where the €1M Will Go37:20 – Building Automated Security Workflows40:15 – Preventing AI-Fueled Phishing & Lookalike Domain Attacks44:00 – Hiring Philosophy, Co-Founder Chemistry & Startup Reality49:00 – Final Advice for Entrepreneurs & First-Time CISOs52:30 – One Signal Message to CISOs: Don’t Block Everything   Connect with the guests: Niek Waarbroek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niekwaarbroek/ Tycho Klessens:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tycho-klessens-a215abb7/ Learn more about Florbs: https://florbs.io Follow Cyber Security District:Laurens Jagt (Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurensjagt/Website: https://www.cybersecuritydistrict.comAll channels & newsletter: https://beacons.ai/cybersecuritydistrict