Dr. Christine Izuakor, Cyber Pop-up FounderTrailblazing cybersecurity expert, Dr. Christine Izuakor, is changing the face of cybersecurity with new startup launch
Cyber Pop-up is an on-demand cybersecurity service platform powered by vetted and highly skilled freelance experts. The
company was founded by Dr. Christine Izuakor, who has over a decade of experience leading various cybersecurity
functions within Fortune 100 companies. Izuakor also earned a Ph.D. in security engineering from the University of
Colorado, becoming the youngest and first African American woman to do so.
“We cannot solve tomorrow's cyber threats, with yesterday’s solutions. We have to start thinking very differently”,
explained the 2x Chicago Business Crain's list maker.
The startups' unique approach to cybersecurity services has already garnered a growing list of loyal customers,
including a few multi-billion-dollar companies, before announcing the launch this month. Customers believe in Cyber
Pop-up because of its distinct style and capability:Trustworthy: Projects are delivered by hand-picked, vetted, and highly skilled experts who have experience securing top
global organizations.Flexible: The startups' unique “pop-up” style shop allows customers to spin up projects as soon as they need them, with
some projects kicking off as soon as the same day.Efficient: Customers access world-class security services on-demand without time-consuming recruiting and interviewing,
cumbersome contracts, or overhead employment costs.
“This idea started brewing about seven years ago. Early in my career, I loved doing pro-bono cybersecurity projects for
non-profits. I knew that they needed cybersecurity, but not all have access to affordable services, and I wanted to
help. I quickly realized that small and medium-sized companies faced the same challenge, and the mass cyber talent
shortage only made matters worse”, says the first-generation Nigerian American who left a six-figure career at a Fortune
100 company in exchange for a life as a startup founder; A move that came just before the unprecedented nation-wide
shutdowns began in response to COVID-19.
Growing cybersecurity breaches have led to a rapid increase in security demand that has grossly outpaced the cyber
talent supply. As a result, Christine became passionate about addressing two challenges: The lack of flexible security
services and the shortage of cybersecurity talent. And thus, Cyber Pop-up was born.
Today, Cyber Pop-up is closing the gap by allowing businesses to tap into high-demand experts who are often unavailable
full-time, while also paving the way for the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
Because the startup was birthed through the very spirit of giving back to the community, social impact is in the
startup’s DNA. Dr. Izuakor shared, “We believe that diverse cyber challenges, require diverse solutions. Our freelancer
base is comprised of 50% women with 15+ countries represented across all ethnic groups. We are very intentional about
that aspect of our business and the valuable perspective it brings to our customers.”
As Cyber Pop-up dashes towards its big dream to secure the world, one pop-up project at a time, the startup continues to
work with various organizations to open up access to security resources, increase diversity in the industry, and
transform the way that the world views cybersecurity. “Our customers can feel good knowing that every project they
request is making a difference,” Izuakor says. 2
Learn more: https://www.cyberpopup.com/About Cyber Pop-up
Cyber Pop-up connects high-demand businesses to on-demand cybersecurity services. Powered by vetted and highly skilled
security freelancers, Cyber Pop-up provides a platform that is trustworthy, flexible, and efficient for companies of all
sizes.
The dynamic service model empowers customers to spin up short-term cyber task forces that complete a wide range of
security projects. Through a simple, user-friendly ordering process, customers can launch a cybersecurity project run by
experts who have experience securing top companies like Facebook and Google, for a fraction of the cost and effort.
For small and medium-sized businesses looking for cybersecurity support to large enterprises looking to extend the reach
of an existing cyber team, Cyber Pop-up delivers unique value. Companies get the flexibility they need, with the
expertise they can trust.About Dr. Christine Izuakor
Dr. Christine Izuakor is the Founder and CEO of Cyber Pop-up. She has over a decade of experience leading cybersecurity
functions within Fortune 100 companies and teaches graduate-level cybersecurity courses. Christine earned a Ph.D. in
Security Engineering, becoming the youngest student and first African American woman to do so.
Izuakor also completed a master’s degree in information systems security from the University of Houston in 2012 and is a
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). Her research has been published in several international
journals, and her original contributions to the security industry have been presented in international conferences from
Washington, DC to Italy. In 2017, her rapid growth within the technology industry landed her a spot on Chicago Business
Crain’s Tech 50 List. She was also honored in the 2018 Crains 20 in their 20s list. She’s also been featured in the Wall
Street Journal, Cheddar News, CW, Hemispheres Magazine, and more.
Christine is a first-generation Nigerian American, native Houstonian, Chicago resident, and avid traveler. She
appreciates learning about different cultures, and shares her journey on social media, igniting travel curiosity in
folks across the globe.