Arda YANIK

You re midway through a pentest. Recon s wrapped, two privilege escalation paths have failed. You flip over to ChatGPT hoping for something useful and it spits out the usual suspects: SUID binaries, kernel exploits, weak folder perms. It doesn t know your host, it doesn t know your tools, it doesn t know what phase you re in, and that s the real problem.

We asked: what would it take to build an assistant that actually thinks like an operator under pressure? So we built PhantomShift, a research prototype that acts like a tactical copilot observing your terminal, understanding context, and recommending your next best move mid-engagement.
Think of it as your unblinking, recall-perfect operator ready to train the next generation of cybersecurity pros by having it support operator training and tactical development.

For years I watched early-stage founders spin their wheels for weeks or months trying to test ideas only to hit a wall or pivot too late. I did it myself. It drained time, cash, and energy.

That experience drove me to build mvpAI, a lightweight tool that simulates investor feedback and user reactions in days not months. I m designing mockups and persona-driven tests so founders can avoid burnout and know whether to pivot, proceed, or pause before writing code.

I d love to hear:

• How have you validated your startup idea, especially before coding anything?

• What worked, what failed fast, and where did you waste the most time?

• Which tools or approaches helped you decide sooner?

  I m building this to crack a common pain point, rooted in my own journey.
  Would love to connect with fellow makers who ve been there and learn from what didn t work for you.