When Jobert and Michiel started their penetration testing consultancy, they ran into a frustrating reality. Convincing companies to trust two 18-year-olds without professional credentials or experience wasn’t easy. Despite their six years of hacking expertise, their youth and status as university students left potential clients skeptical. Rather than let doubt stop them, they came up with a clever plan.
They came up with an unconventional idea to stand out. If they couldn’t find a security vulnerability in a company’s system within 30 minutes, they promised to buy the company a cake of their choice. The offer piqued the curiosity of potential clients, many of whom were confident their systems were secure. Jobert and Michiel saw it as an opportunity to demonstrate their expertise hands-on.
They found, time and again, that no system is completely flawless. Over the year and a half they ran this promotion, they never had to buy a single cake. This was a testament that vulnerabilities can exist even in the most carefully designed systems. The experience not only proved their skills but also helped them build trust with clients, leading to contracts that shaped their careers as penetration testers.
“Together we creatively overcame a limitation, which eventually led to the foundation of HackerOne.” – Jobert Abma, HackerOne Co-Founder, Distinguished Engineer, California, U.S.
This story isn’t just a clever marketing move; it captures the culture at HackerOne. At our core, we’re all about creating solutions, showing our value through what we do, and building trust little by little. Like Jobert and Michiel’s “cake challenge,” we aim to turn doubts into confidence and tackle every challenge with flair.
The “cake story” also highlights an enduring value of HackerOne – our belief that hacking is about more than breaking systems; it’s about building trust. From those early days of penetration testing to our global bug bounty platform today, we continue to champion transparency, creativity, and the pursuit of excellence.
“Vulnerabilities are inevitable. What matters is how you uncover and address them to build trust and stronger defenses.” – Michiel Prins, HackerOne Co-founder & Senior Director, Product Management, California, U.S.
Next time you spot a slice of cake at the office—or hear someone chatting about sweet perks—think about those two Dutch hackers who turned desserts into a stepping stone for success. It’s a legacy we’re proud of, and we carry that spirit with us every day as we work towards making the internet safer for everyone.