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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 – Intro
01:15 – What Inspired Florbs: The Google Workspace Problem
03:40 – Why Onboarding & Offboarding Create Risk
06:00 – Real-World Cases: Ex-Employees Accessing Confidential Docs
08:45 – Building from Admin Scripts to Full Product
11:30 – Why Google Alone Doesn’t Cut It for File Security
14:50 – The Origins of the Name “Florbs”
18:10 – Google Developer Expert Status & Product-Led Growth
21:00 – Meeting Tycho: From VC Investor to Co-Founder
25:30 – The First Pitch, the Missed Investment & The Unexpected Partnership
30:40 – Raising Smart Capital (Not Just Any Capital)
34:00 – Scaling Carefully: Where the €1M Will Go
37:20 – Building Automated Security Workflows
40:15 – Preventing AI-Fueled Phishing & Lookalike Domain Attacks
44:00 – Hiring Philosophy, Co-Founder Chemistry & Startup Reality
49:00 – Final Advice for Entrepreneurs & First-Time CISOs
52:30 – 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.com
All channels & newsletter: https://beacons.ai/cybersecuritydistrict
