Bootstrapping security into a startup involves multiple strategies tailored to a company's unique needs, as demonstrated by Kinde's approach following its seed funding. The company prioritized implementing effective and straightforward security controls to establish a strong foundation, including measures like enforcing two-factor authentication, using security headers, and code scanners. A "hit list" of security tasks—ranging from Google account hardening to AWS security services activation—was created based on past experiences and best practices. Kinde also performed a self-audit using the Cloud Security Alliance’s CAIQ-Lite template to identify risks and address them through actionable tasks, such as disaster recovery planning and penetration testing. Initial objectives were quickly achieved, thanks in part to security-conscious founders, while ongoing efforts focus on integrating automation and improving reliability. As Kinde progresses, the emphasis is on enhancing internal tool integrations to streamline processes, reflecting their proactive and evolving security strategy as an early-stage startup.