In this blog, Dr. Brenton Cooper, Fivecast CEO and EY Entrepreneur of the Year National Finalist shares his entrepreneurial journey and how he developed Fivecast into a market-leading open-source intelligence company with a global footprint.
The Essence of Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurs must recognize and adapt to opportunities, transforming them into innovative businesses. The opportunity for Fivecast emerged from the Data to Decisions Cooperative Research Centre, a collaboration between government agencies and top research institutions, to address the immense challenge of collecting and analyzing the masses of online data in our increasingly digital world. With five billion active social media users, each accessing about seven different platforms every month, reviewing this data generated is beyond human scale.
Driving Global OSINT Innovation
People go online for various reasons- to communicate, network, form friendships, shop, and explore their interests. But it is not all benign. Organizations worldwide face a daunting task when it comes to identifying threats online. The same technology used to purchase products online is also being used by human traffickers and drug dealers to advertise their goods. The same algorithms that suggest products to shoppers are also driving people into communities of online extremism. There’s a dark underbelly to the internet, and that’s where Fivecast steps in.
Fivecast’s mission is to create a safer world by delivering open-source intelligence (OSINT) solutions that help our customers across defense, national security, law enforcement, corporate, and financial organizations uncover actionable insights across masses of online data. We help our customers tackle complex and important challenges like online extremism, trafficking, organized crime, money laundering, and fraud and equip them with the tools for informed decision-making.
request the Evolving Role of OSINT White Paper
Overcoming Challenges and Seizing Opportunities
Our journey at Fivecast has been filled with challenges and opportunities. One pivotal moment was commercializing research and development from a large research center focused on AI in national security. I distinctly remember when we were briefing senior national security leaders about our work. I felt confident we had hit the mark when I walked out of that meeting. Shortly after, we formed Fivecast, with a clear mission to commercialize our R&D efforts and create a sustainable business that could help our customers protect global communities.
The Fivecast journey
The Fivecast journey has been about continuous learning and decision-making, where each step brings you closer to your vision. Entrepreneurship is more than simply starting a business; it’s about engaging with the tech ecosystem and inspiring future engineers, designers, mathematicians, and scientists.
To me, entrepreneurial spirit means stepping up to the challenge and being a relentless problem solver. At Fivecast, these values are at the core of everything we do. Entrepreneurship is not just about having a big idea; it’s about making countless decisions to turn that idea into a successful and sustainable business.
Defining Success as an Entrepreneur
Success involves caring more than your competition, thinking smarter, and listening to customers. It’s about understanding possibilities and introducing new capabilities to the market. Success evolves over time; in the early days, it’s about innovation and survival, but as you grow, it is also about building a team, trusting, leading, and delivering on your mission.
From the outset, my goal was to build a sustainable business to enable a safer world. This vision guided us through early innovation and survival and continues to drive us as we face new challenges. Fostering innovation and growth in our community is something I deeply care about.
Using Innovation to Make the World Safer
Our innovation aims to create a safer online environment. We want our children to engage in their online lives safe and free from the dark side of the internet. By making it harder for traffickers and extremists to operate, we hope to foster a digital world where discussions can be free from harmful influences.
The journey of Fivecast is a testament to the power of entrepreneurial spirit and the impact of innovative technology. Our commitment to enabling a safer world remains unwavering as we grow and evolve. We look forward to the future, confident in our ability to make a positive difference in the global community.
For those looking to succeed in entrepreneurship, recognize opportunities, adapt to change, and stay passionate about your mission. The future of open-source intelligence and AI holds immense potential, and with dedication and perseverance, the possibilities are endless. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Let’s continue to innovate and make the world a safer place together.
