Matt Huber of Aware

March 1, 2024 thetechtribune

**An exclusive Tech Tribune Q&A with Matt Huber (co-founder and Senior Director of Information Security and IT) of Aware, which was honored in our:**

Tell us the origin story of Aware – what problem were you trying to solve and why?

We started this journey together because of the problems we encountered with the administration of Yammer (now called Viva Engage). These included how we addressed compliance monitoring, data visibility, and a myriad of other issues associated with running an enterprise-scale social network. As we dove deeper into the world of workplace collaboration, we found the difficulties we’d faced with Yammer were pervasive in this technology. We then decided to expand our initial solution for Yammer to other enterprise social platforms.

What was the biggest hurdle you encountered in your journey?

People, as every person hired on after the co-founders can change the company culture…and we have done that many times!

What does the future hold for Aware?

Artificial intelligence has been used at Aware since we first incorporated. Our use and development of AI will grow, along with expanding to more enterprise social platforms as they become available. We will continue to focus on closing security and GRC gaps for our customers.

What are your thoughts on the local tech startup scene in Columbus?

There is such a great talent pool in Columbus, and it shows through the many different startups that are born and succeed here. I’m incredibly proud to be a part of it.

What’s your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Take risks as they can lead to success. If they don’t work out, don’t dwell on them but figure out the path forward and learn from them. We also remind ourselves constantly that “done” is better than “perfect.”

An exclusive Tech Tribune Q&A with Matt Huber (co-founder and Senior Director of Information Security and IT) of Aware, which was honored in our: