StackHawk Strengthens Ties with OWASP ZAP by Onboarding Founder Simon Bennetts
StackHawk, the Denver-based application security startup, has made a strategic move by hiring Simon Bennetts, creator of the widely-used OWASP Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) open-source security scanner. This hire signals StackHawk’s commitment to enhancing developer-focused security solutions.
Why This Hire Matters
- Open-Source Leadership: Bennetts will continue leading ZAP development while collaborating with StackHawk
- Strategic Alignment: Both share a vision of integrating security directly into developer workflows
- Industry Impact: ZAP is among the world’s most adopted security scanning tools
Bridging the Gap Between Security and Development
StackHawk already leverages ZAP’s scanning technology as its foundation, adding:
- Automated security testing
- CI/CD pipeline integrations
- Developer-friendly tooling
“My vision for ZAP was always about empowering developers with application security,” Bennetts stated. “StackHawk’s focus on making AppSec accessible aligns perfectly with this mission.”
Shared Philosophy Drives Collaboration
StackHawk founders and Bennetts found common ground in their belief that:
- Security tools should target developers, not just security teams
- Open-source plays a critical role in advancing application security
- Automation can bridge the gap between security and development
“Simon’s work with ZAP has transformed application security,” said Joni Klippert, StackHawk CEO. “His joining allows us to invest more in ZAP while building enterprise-ready solutions for modern development teams.”
The Road Ahead
- Bennetts will maintain his ZAP leadership role
- StackHawk will continue enhancing its commercial offerings
- The collaboration aims to strengthen both open-source and commercial security solutions
Company Background
The Denver startup has raised $5 million from notable investors including:
- Flybridge
- Costanoa Ventures
- Matchstick Ventures
- Foundry Group
This strategic hire comes as ZAP celebrates over a decade of industry impact, having become a go-to solution for dynamic application security testing.
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