Hartej Sawhney is the founder and CEO of Zokyo, a cybersecurity company specializing in blockchain technology. ^[1]

Education

Sawhney graduated from Penn State University in 2019. ^[1]

Career

Sawhney worked as a project manager for Pixatel Systems Inc., a social enterprise working to improve education in developing countries, from April to October 2011. In January 2012, he co-founded Zuldi, a tech company developing Point-of-Sale optimizations for merchants. During this time, he became an alumnus of Start-Up Chile, a business accelerator program created by the Chilean Government, and worked as an advisor for Stork Stack. He also became an alumnus of Tech Wildcatters, a venture capital fund focusing on Seed to Series A+ stage technology and tech-enabled companies. ^[1]

In July 2016, Sawhney co-founded Hosho, a blockchain cybersecurity company that produced HoshoCon, the first blockchain security conference, where he worked until November 2018. He then went on to found Zokyo, where he serves as CEO. From January 2021 onwards, he has been a seed investor for various companies, including LayerZero Labs, Pocket Network Inc., Alethea AI, and Synthr. Sawhney became board chairman at Mamoru, an enterprise-grade security solution using machine learning to protect blockchains from threats and anomalies proactively. In April 2023, he became a mentor for Techstars Web3, a start-up accelerator for Web3 entrepreneurs and projects building in the decentralized internet. ^[1]

Interviews/Panels

Blockchain Cybersecurity

At HoshoCon 2018, Sawhney discussed the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity within the blockchain industry, highlighting the frequent theft of large sums from exchanges and the loss of funds in ICOs due to security breaches. He emphasized that many blockchain companies lack adequate security measures, such as regular penetration tests and dedicated security officers, which leaves them vulnerable to attacks like phishing. Sawhney also pointed out the regulatory advancements in smaller nations and expressed hope for more comprehensive regulations from larger countries. ^[2]

Zokyo's Focus

In November 2019, Sawhney discussed Zokyo's dual focus on blockchain security and software development, highlighting their work in smart contract auditing and cybersecurity services, including penetration testing and red teaming. He emphasized the lack of regulatory standards in the cryptocurrency industry and the necessity for creating blockchain-specific cybersecurity protocols. Sawhney also touched on the competitive yet cooperative nature of the cybersecurity field, the reliance on manual testing for identifying critical vulnerabilities in smart contracts despite the rise of automation, and his strategic decision to leverage talent from Ukraine and India. Looking ahead, he anticipated industry maturation as more capital flowed into cryptocurrency projects and their products reached consumers. ^[3]

Launching an ICO

At the Malta AI & Blockchain Summit in 2019, Sawhney discussed the importance of robust cybersecurity measures for companies launching Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). He highlighted common pitfalls such as inadequate in-house security practices and reliance on CTOs for security responsibilities, which are insufficient. Sawhney stressed the need for dedicated cybersecurity officers or consultants and shared an example of a major breach caused by a phishing scam, underscoring the human vulnerability in cybersecurity. He also advocated for regular security audits, smart contract evaluations, and proactive engagement with cybersecurity firms to protect against attacks, emphasizing the necessity of regulatory clarity in the industry. ^[4]