Former NSA agent hacking company infused with $7.5 mln in series A round

By Staff Writer

Apr 24 2014, 10:57 AM EDT

California-based Synack, a crowdsourced platform for hacking into customers' security holes, raises $7.5 million for a series A funding round.

Synack offers clients a connection into a worldwide network of security specialists called "white-hat hackers." These hackers, some former NSA employees, are offered financial incentives to pinpoint vulnerabilities within a controlled environment.

Kaplan, Synack's CEO and a co-founder explains "The fact that we can't find something doesn't mean our researchers aren't working." He continued "And we haven't really seen a case where [vulnerability] submissions start dropping off."

Investors include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Google Ventures, Allegis Capital, and Derek Smith.

The Menlo Park, California-based company currently staffs 15 people with 'hundreds' of independent researchers. New funds will be used to employ more people.

Want to work with former NSA agents? Think you can hack like a pro? They do have some job openings here.

Catching bugs never looked this cool: Synack raises $7.5M