Hack Attack

REVIEW SUMMARY
Business. KnowBe4, Clearwater
Industry. Technology, computer security
Key. Founder wants to grow startup firm in a nascent segment of the computer-security industry.

When technology entrepreneur Stu Sjouwerman set out on a new product mission six years ago, he mimicked the approach of a giant pharmaceutical firm.

He studied the issue. He hired a team of experts. And most significantly, Sjouwerman's firm, downtown Clearwater-based Sunbelt Software, spent a chunk of money — at least $10 million — to check and double-check the product's usability and veracity. But unlike a blockbuster cholesterol pill, Sjouwerman's mission was to develop software that could quickly and accurately fend off vicious computer virus attacks.