Member Spotlight

From Complexity to Clarity: A Cybersecurity CEO’s Journey with Acetech

When Farshad Abasi-Fard founded FWDSEC (Forward Security) , he wasn’t chasing buzzwords, he was fixing real gaps in how modern businesses protect their applications. With over two decades of experience in cybersecurity, including senior roles at HSBC and SAP, Farshad knew what enterprise clients needed before they did. But building a company even with deep technical credibility is a different kind of challenge. “As a founder, you wear every hat,” he says. “You’re growing a team, fundraising, defining strategy and there’s no playbook.” In 2021, Farshad joined Acetech. At the time, Forward Security had strong technical foundations, but was entering a new phase: commercialization, capital-raising, and scaling.

About FWDSEC

Founded in Vancouver, FWDSEC helps companies implement robust security across the entire software development lifecycle. With clients ranging from fintech and healthtech startups to enterprise and government partners, the company has quickly become a trusted name in application and cloud security.

That momentum culminated in the launch of Eureka - FWDSEC’s flagship DevSecOps platform, designed to help teams detect and fix security issues early, without disrupting development speed. Recognized by CIOReview as one of Canada’s Most Promising Tech Services Companies in 2022, FWDSEC is now at the forefront of secure-by-design innovation across North America.

  • CEO: Farshad Abasi-Fard

  • Membership Duration: 3 years, since 2021

  • Company: FWDSEC (Forward Security)

  • Industry: DevSecOps / Application & Cloud Security

  • Milestone: Scaled into enterprise markets, expanded across North America, and doubled headcount

Building a Safer Digital World — Together

When Farshad Abasi-Fard joined Acetech in 2021, FWDSEC was a growing cybersecurity startup with a clear mission: secure modern applications and cloud environments with deep technical expertise. Over the next three years, the company expanded across North America, launched its flagship Eureka DevSecOps platform, and doubled its team to support enterprise growth .

“Acetech was the space where I could ask tough questions and hear honest answers. You’re not alone in your problems, someone else is solving the same thing, or already has.”

Farshad Abasi-Fard, CEO, FWDSEC

The Power of Real Peer Support

For Farshad, Acetech’s curated peer groups and CEO roundtables were more than just sounding boards, they were strategic assets.

“Being part of a roundtable gave me access to CEOs going through the same growing pains. Sometimes another founder had the solution. Other times, mentors brought in external experts with exactly the right experience.”
— Farshad Abasi-Fard

These honest, founder-to-founder conversations provided not only clarity, but tactical direction from hiring and marketing to fundraising and long-term scale strategy.

Unexpected Wins: The Power of Trusted Connections

At Acetech, networking doesn’t feel transactional, it feels transformational. “Through my roundtable, I discovered active angel groups and got warm intros from fellow founders.” — Farshad Abasi-Fard, CEO of FWDSEC

The value? Access to the right people at the right time whether you're fundraising, problem-solving, or scaling fast.

Advice for Other Founders? Don’t Wait.

“Do it right away. It’s totally worth it. At any stage, there’s a phenomenal aspect of networking.
Your problem is someone else’s problem. There is no similar organization like Acetech in BC.”

 —Farshad Abasi-Fard, CEO of FWDSEC