Introducing The 403 Circle by Astra

Founders Note: Community Launched!

This Cyber Security Awareness month, we’re thrilled to launch The 403 Circle, our new community-driven approach to building a safer world. It isn’t for everyone, but it might be for you.

We are surrounded by an overwhelming trove of information, from AI chatbots and mile-long whitepapers to social networks or ‘communities’ that treat you like a product—to acquire, upsell, and renew contracts.  

At Astra, we strive to simplify proactive security. This community is the next step in making it accessible. While we can’t promise magic potions, it’s a place to connect with others who share your passion. 

Build actual connections with dedicated geek-out sessions, expert-led workshops, immersive coaching, dailies, and more. Find solutions to the most demanding challenges over a private round-table gathering or a virtual cup of coffee—the choice is yours!

But knowledge can be overwhelming. While we want to maximize impact, bigger isn’t the primary concern, better is. Hence, membership is capped.

Sign up now to join the waitlist for early access to curated, verified content and a chance to shape our community as a founding member.

Cheers!

Ananda and Shikhil  

Introducing The 403 Circle: A community for CISOs & CTOs to have candid conversations & share/receive tactical advice.

Since launching Astra in 2018, we’ve been inspired by the growing commitment to security across teams of all sizes, from solo entrepreneurs to large corporations.

Interacting with dozens of CTOs, CISOs, and engineering leaders worldwide has given us a front-row seat to the escalating cybersecurity landscape—from the RegreSSHion vulnerability to the polyfill attacks or the Crowdstrike outage; cybersecurity has become non-negotiable in the early stages of the development cycle.

This shift-left approach has emphasized adopting DevSecOps from the ground up, primarily through continuous pentests, allowing us to uncover 2 million vulnerabilities together and save over $69 million in potential losses.

With users from all walks of life, the common thread that connects us is the need for raw tribal knowledge. None of us need another discussion board, but rather a thoughtfully threaded space that bakes one-to-one conversations, access to industry experts, the ability to ask questions—good questions freely, coach, lead, and so much more into its foundation.

We want to provide you with the support you need when you need it. That’s why we created The 403 Circle, a virtual space on Slack where you can connect with other engineering and security venturers, share experiences, and seek guidance from those who’ve been there and actually done that.

Built on the collective shared experiences of CXOs (and often our daily frustrations!), it is designed to offer firsthand, candid information instead of another laundry list of marketing articles.

Thus, whether you are navigating the early days of a startup or building high-performing teams and scaling your product, join our community to tap into the intuitive, collective knowledge of industry experts, influencers, and fellow engineer-turned-founders. 

As for the name? Well, “403” is a little inside joke for tech folks—you know, that pesky error code you see when you’re trying to access something exclusive. 

What sets The 403 Circle apart?

Engage in candid, off-the-record discussions.

We believe we are shaped by the company we keep, yet most communities silo CTOs & CISOs, creating gaps between security and engineering. Our private Slack group offers vetted CXOs a space for easy conversations—whether it’s geeking out on cybersecurity, exploring collaborations, or fostering a security-first culture. 

Note: With channels ranging from Security 101 and Compliance to Cyberattacks, you can discuss it all and get curated 1:1 introductions and honest peer feedback.

Share best practices and innovative solutions.

In The 403 Circle, get the answers you need all in one place—no more chasing down niche info through SEO-heavy resources and AI chatbots. Access exclusive content with weekly cybersecurity and engineering insights sent to your inbox; choose from self-serve resources, post on the channel, or ask our Astra-nauts for help.

Participate in expert-led AMAs and webinars.

Our best work happens when peers surround us. Join exclusive events—expert-led AMAs, webinars, and private CXO gatherings—to gain insights, track emerging threats, and tailor security trends to unique solutions. Learn from those in your shoes and share your insights as a speaker at future events. Want a sneak peek?

As a precursor to the launch, we hosted a private event for CTOs and CISOs in Bengaluru, India. The primary goal of this event was to establish the importance of such a community in the current landscape.

Be a Founding Member of The 403 Circle

While membership is by invitation only, as we launch this unparalleled community, we’re offering a limited number of spots to passionate cybersecurity and innovation leaders eager to share their expertise, learn from peers, and contribute to a space of elite tech leaders.

As a founding member, you’ll enjoy:

• Lifetime Membership: Be part of this exclusive community forever.
• Priority Access: Enjoy early access to all events and resources.
• Community Leadership: Help guide the direction of The 403 Circle.
• Speaker Spotlight: Be recognized as an industry expert. Get a chance to speak at our community events.
• Thought Leadership: Accelerate your thought-leadership journey with our dynamic community-driven content.

Do you think this is the best fit for you? Apply now. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of something extraordinary.