
The Google Security Gap Nobody Talks About with Florbs founders Niek Waarbroek and Tycho Klessens
Cyber Security DistrictShow Notes
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
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