Kochi: CloudSEK, a fast-growing cybersecurity company known for its AI-powered threat intelligence platform, has been awarded the Startup of the Year at the 17th Dhanam Business Summit & Award Nite held at Le Meridien Convention Centre, Kochi.
The recognition highlights CloudSEK’s contribution to the cybersecurity landscape, where it helps businesses predict and prevent cyber threats with the power of artificial intelligence.
Building Intelligent Machines to Predict Cyber Attacks
Founded in 2015 by cybersecurity expert Rahul Sasi, CloudSEK was born out of a simple but powerful idea — to build intelligent systems that could think like humans and anticipate threats before they happen.
“We’re honoured to receive this award, especially among such a distinguished gathering of Kerala’s business community. This recognition belongs to our entire team — engineers, researchers, and thinkers — who work relentlessly to make the digital world safe,” said Rahul Sasi, CEO and Co-Founder of CloudSEK.
Rahul’s journey into cybersecurity started in 2006 through Garage4Hackers, an online community of researchers. He left college early to pursue hands-on roles at leading global firms like iSIGHT Partners (now part of Google) and Citrix, where he broke ground as the first person hired in India without an engineering degree. Today, he is widely recognized for his contributions to open-source security, and serves on key government committees, including the RBI’s Digital Lending Committee and MeitY.
A Smarter Approach to Digital Risk
CloudSEK’s flagship platform uses contextual AI to help organizations monitor and manage digital threats — from phishing and brand impersonation to supply chain risks and dark web activity. Its unified dashboard gives businesses a real-time view of all external cyber threats, allowing faster response with minimal manual effort.
What sets CloudSEK apart is its ability to deliver accurate, actionable intelligence by understanding the context around a threat, rather than just the threat itself.
Today, CloudSEK works with some of the world’s largest banks, fintechs, e-commerce companies, and government agencies to help secure their digital ecosystems.
Recognizing Kerala’s Best in Business
The Dhanam Business Summit 2025 brought together Kerala’s top business minds, honoring leaders across diverse industries:
- Joy Alukkas – Businessman of the Year
- Jose Dominic, CGH Earth – Lifetime Achievement Award
- Venkittaraman Ramachandran, V-Guard – Business Professional of the Year
- Danesa Raghulal, Elite Group – Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
The winners of the Dhanam Business Awards were chosen by a distinguished jury comprising some of Kerala’s most respected names in business and finance. The panel included Venugopal C Govind, a renowned financial expert and senior partner at Varma & Varma; C J George, Managing Director of Geojit Financial Services and a prominent figure in India’s investment landscape; Navas Meeran, Chairman of the Group Meeran’s and former Chairman of CII Southern Region; and M. K. Das, veteran journalist and former Editor of The Indian Express.
The event also featured the launch of “10 Inspiring Achievers”, a book curated by Dhanam Business Media, and the unveiling of the Dhanam Powerlist, which highlights Kerala-based companies with over ₹1,000 crore in annual revenues.
Acclaimed film producer and Oscar winner Guneet Monga was the Guest of Honour and shared insights from her inspiring journey in the global creative industry.
A Win for Kerala’s Startup Ecosystem
CloudSEK’s recognition at the Dhanam Business Summit is not just a celebration of its growth, but a reflection of the company’s long-term vision to redefine cybersecurity through contextual AI. As the digital threat landscape continues to evolve, CloudSEK’s ability to anticipate and neutralize risks before they escalate is proving critical for businesses across sectors.
With this award, CloudSEK strengthens its position as one of India’s most promising technology-driven startups. It also highlights the rising role of Kerala’s innovation ecosystem in producing globally relevant solutions. As the company looks ahead, its focus remains clear — to build a safer digital future, powered by intelligence, driven by purpose.
