Capture the Bug is a cybersecurity startup that enables businesses to proactively identify vulnerabilities through agile penetration testing, minimising the risk of ‘bugs’ and security breaches.

Penetration testing (pentesting) can be costly and time-consuming, however Capture the Bug’s innovative testing model and platform means users save money and time by receiving results in real-time and having access to a global community of testers.

Explaining penetration testing, Capture the Bug founder and director Ankita Dhakar says: “We’re the good guys who try to hack the system to find vulnerabilities to report to our clients.”

“Traditional pentesting is stuck in the past. With sprints and agile development now the norm, the slow, manual methods of old-school pentesting are falling behind. These outdated models don’t focus on speed, automation, or agility, making it harder for engineering teams to develop and fix issues simultaneously.

“As DevOps and rapid development cycles rise, businesses need a modern solution. That’s why Capture The Bug is disrupting the market with pentesting as a Service (PTaaS) - designed for today’s fast-moving SaaS businesses. We provide continuous, real-time testing that integrates with agile development, allowing companies to focus on growth without leaving vulnerabilities unchecked.”

While providing pentesting services for a client at her first startup, SecurityLit, Ankita recognised the need for a continuous security testing approach, so began working on a new concept which became Capture the Bug.

Unlike traditional pentesting, Capture the Bug enables clients to start pentesting quickly and receive immediate results rather than waiting months until consultants are available.

Capture the Bug has its own team of penetration testers but also engages with a large community of skilled and ID verified penetration testers around the world so clients can select the right testers for the job.

“The community model works really well when you’re a large enterprise with critical infrastructure that would benefit from multiple people testing to get the maximum output,” says Ankita.

Since launching in 2023, Capture the Bug has onboarded a number of New Zealand SaaS (software as a service) businesses who have been impressed with Capture the Bug’s model and agility.

“Capture the Bug helps businesses – big or small – increase the frequency of penetration testing while keeping costs down. You can also choose the assets you want tested and the people you work with,” explains Ankita.

Currently Capture the Bug is focusing on the New Zealand and Australia markets but plans to expand into the States in the future.

“We want to become the go-to security provider for all high growth tech startups across New Zealand and Australia.

“We are trying to disrupt the penetration testing industry which is a challenge as people are used to the traditional model so can be dismissive. But I have a strong network of founders and advisors that push me to keep going.”

Capture the Bug received Callaghan Innovation’s Ārohia Trailblazer Seed Grant, which helps innovative businesses gather evidence to support an Ārohia Trailblazer Grant application. This grant supports businesses to bring innovative new products and services to market, and in doing so pave the way for others to follow their lead.

“With Callaghan Innovation's support, we’ve accelerated our efforts. Their funding and advisory services have been pivotal in helping us grow. This partnership has been essential in driving our innovation and delivering real value to our clients.

“The ability to reach out to the Callaghan Innovation team and ask questions has been invaluable. They make me feel more confident and that we’re on the right path. For a business like us that’s just starting out, Callaghan’s support changes everything,” says Ankita.

If your business is innovating, you may be eligible for support from Callaghan Innovation. Find out more.