Startup of the Day - OneBe
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The BizSpark startup of the day is OneBe, based in Japan. You will find below an interview with Takashi Kato, CEO of OneBe. All the best to them and congrats for being the startup of the day!
Website: www.onebe.co.jp.
Interview with Takashi Kato, CEO of OneBe
Tell us who you are and your role in the company:
CEO.
What did you do before creating your company?
Product Manager in Trendmicro.
How do you feel being the most promising ‘Startup of the Day’ per Microsoft BizSpark?
This is very good opportunity for OneBe to present our security products to many people we have never been able to reach in the past.
What is your company’s mission?
We are specialized in R&D, Marketing and Sales of computer security products, especially remote data delete product.
How did you get the idea for your company?
Back in 2006, we realized data leak from missing laptop was still issue for many of Japanese enterprises. Encryption or password lock type of security products were already out there, so we started to think different way. If we can delete data in missing PC remotely just like spy movie, we can reduce data leakage problem (and it sounds cool too). It was challenge for us to bring this idea to real products, but we talked to many people to understand their working habits and set the features to meet their demands as much as we could. We are still working on to improve our product.
Tell us about your funding history. Are you currently looking for funding? If so, how much?
We were established in 2006 with 100% own fund. Now we are not looking for fund from outside.
How many employees do you have? How many developers?
6 people in all, 3 people in developers.
Are you hiring? If yes, what are you hiring and where?
We are not now. However we will soon hire more in tech support position due to business growth.
Which platform are you building on? Why?
Client side, our TrustDelete works on Windows XP, Vista, 7. We also have Windows Mobile 6.X version of Trust Delete. Server side, it supports Windows Server 2008 and R2. And we proudly announce that the system is already running on Windows Azure. We think Azure is very effective in both cost saving and ease to maintenance, these are always big issue for small company like us.
Where do you see opportunities today in the Software/internet area?
Japanese enterprise market for now. As you know, there are many excellent laptop manufactures in Japan. So we would like to work with them to introduce remote data delete solution. We are looking at worldwide market as well in near future.
What do you think about the BizSpark Program?
Well managed, helpful for the company in our size. The program regularly brings us the opportunity to meet people. It also provides enough references and materials and many of Microsoft products in affordable price. This will help for us to try new idea or creation over the Microsoft platform. Without BizSpark Program, I don’t think we could finish Windows Azure support in short time we did.
Do you have any advice for young Software entrepreneurs?
Keep on changing and try new. Good product is something helps your customers, not what you want to develop.
Who’s your role model?
Mr. Steve Chang, founder of TrendMicro. We have learned so many things from him.
What’s the ONE THING you would like readers to take away from this interview?
Remote data delete is still new idea, and many of laptop users are still not aware of this type of security solution. I think we can deploy our Trust Delete into your products or services to serve your customers better. Not just combined with encryption or other security products, may be good idea to co-work with data back up or synch system. Please let us know your thought.
Published: 4/26/2010 8:55 AM
Company: OneBe