Risk and compliance are one of the top concerns from organizations when it comes to AI adoption and deployment. Especially in the semiconductor industry that is built on intellectual property and high-stakes innovation, security can’t be an afterthought, it needs to be prioritized from the start.
At Cognichip, we’re building the future of semiconductor design. Doing that responsibly means pairing cutting-edge innovation with an equally strong commitment to security and compliance. That’s why I’m thrilled to join Cognichip as Head of Security and Compliance.
It’s rare for a seed-stage company to prioritize security leadership so early. Cognichip’s decision reflects not just foresight, but a conviction that trust, innovation, and resilience begin with security.
My journey to Cognichip has been shaped by diverse perspectives across the security landscape. After earning a Bachelor's in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a Master's in Engineering and Technology Innovation Management from Carnegie Mellon, I've spent 15 years completing what I call the "security trifecta."
I’ve advised organizations of every size on complex security challenges, helped cutting-edge startups develop products that transform their clients’ security posture, and protected critical assets from within ranging from Atlassian (NASDAQ: TEAM) products like Jira and Confluence, whose clientele includes governments and the world’s largest tech companies, to robotic surgery systems at Intuitive (NASDAQ: ISRG).
All of these roles have reinforced a fundamental truth: great security isn’t just about tools and processes, it's about understanding business context and building the right culture.
In the chip industry, protecting data and intellectual property isn’t just important; it’s existential. Every innovation, design, and algorithm represents years of research and development that deserve the highest level of care and rigor.
At Cognichip, our vision is to build a security program that exceeds the standards of enterprise leaders and Fortune 1000 companies while retaining the agility of a startup. For our customers and partners, that means working with a team that treats security as a core business priority, not an afterthought, providing the confidence needed to innovate faster together.
Because we’re building from the ground up, we can embed enterprise-grade security practices from the outset, combining rigor with the speed and adaptability only a startup can deliver. This approach not only protects our own IP, it protects the trust of everyone we work with.
Our philosophy balances rigor with agility. Three principles guide every decision we make in our security program:
1. Risk-based and pragmatic: Security isn’t meant to slow innovation; it’s here to enable it safely. Every decision is evaluated through the lens of real risk and business impact.
2. Guardrails, not roadblocks: Security should guide teams toward safe practices while maintaining velocity, providing clear paths to “yes” rather than simply saying “no.”
3. Security is everyone’s responsibility: The modern security team doesn’t act alone. We empower every Cognichip team member to be a security champion, creating a culture where security considerations are second nature.
Turning our vision into reality starts with a strong foundation. One of our biggest priorities is establishing robust security practices without slowing down our startup momentum. In the near term, we’re focused on four key initiatives:
1. Achieving SOC 2 Type 2 Compliance: This standard gives us a third-party-verified framework for protecting sensitive data and ensuring our operations are consistent and reliable as we scale.
2. Comprehensive Security Assessment: A full and thorough evaluation encompassing all company assets, giving us clear visibility into our risk landscape and enabling informed decision-making.
3. Strategic Security Roadmap: Based on our assessment, we are building a pragmatic, risk-based roadmap to co-develop our core functionality and security measures in order to provide a differentiated solution that can be adopted without security hesitation.
4. Team Building & Strategic Partnerships: Security excellence requires both great people and the right tools. We’re expanding our team thoughtfully while forming strategic partnerships with security vendors who understand the unique challenges of high-growth technology companies.
These foundations set the stage for a security program that grows alongside Cognichip, safeguarding innovation while supporting speed and agility.
At Cognichip, we’re proactively embedding security at the earliest stage, modeling how startups can innovate rapidly while meeting enterprise-grade standards. Our goal is to set a new benchmark for the semiconductor sector, proving that speed, agility, and rigorous security can go hand in hand.
