For the past several months, 20 entrepreneurs and small businesses have been developing the tools, the strategy and the mindset to grow their business as part of the 2025 Fort Worth Business Plan Competition.<\/p>\n
Now, the top eight competitors will be moving on to the finale, and that much closer to a shot at one of the top three cash prizes. The finalists will pitch their completed business plans to a panel of judges from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 14, at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Tickets are free and available online, though RSVPs are required.<\/p>\n
Among those who will not be moving on to the final is Cody Stobaugh, founder of the Stobaugh Group<\/a>, a Bedford-based cybersecurity research and development firm. But Stobaugh\u2019s story is one of the competition\u2019s most compelling narratives.<\/p>\n At 33, Stobaugh has carved an unconventional path. A former demolition worker, carpenter, and Lockheed Martin employee, he turned a COVID-era layoff into an opportunity to launch his own cybersecurity company \u2014 without outside capital.<\/p>\n Stobaugh\u2019s passion for security research dates to his teens, when he cut his teeth on \u201crooting\u201d and \u201cjailbreaking\u201d early versions of iOS and Android. The reverse engineering skills he picked up then laid the groundwork for a career in uncovering vulnerabilities and understanding exploitation methods.<\/p>\n That background gave him the confidence to strike out on his own after a layoff from Lockheed Martin. He\u00a0tried repeatedly to land a cybersecurity job after his layoff, eventually feeling completely locked out of the industry, despite his skills. Rather than wait on corporate gatekeepers, he proved himself directly in the marketplace.\u00a0The\u00a0frustration became one of the driving forces behind launching the Stobaugh Group.<\/p>\n By early 2023, he had already disclosed his first vulnerability. Later that year, he earned his first official CVE \u2014 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures \u2014 for discovering a flaw in Samsung\u2019s proprietary OneUI software.<\/p>\n Before year\u2019s end, Google\u2019s Vulnerability Reward Program gave him an \u201cHonorable Mention\u201d for reverse engineering and disabling safeguards within its Bard API \u2014 work he pulled off before documentation on the system was even publicly available.<\/p>\n \u201cI could start this business with no capital,” he said. “I have everything I need, and I have the computer\u00a0and I have my brain.\u201d<\/p>\n The Stobaugh Group helps businesses meet compliance requirements and strengthen defenses through preemptive security assessments and penetration testing. His first client, a company in Miami, signed on after he promised,\u00a0\u201cGive me the shot. I promise you won\u2019t be disappointed. And if you\u2019re not happy with the work, it\u2019s free.\u201d<\/p>\n That client remains with him today.<\/p>\n Stobaugh\u2019s business model is built on efficiency. With low overhead, he is able to undercut industry giants like Deloitte and IBM by as much as 66% while delivering what clients call \u201cthe best of the best\u201d in quality. He draws talent from local cybersecurity meetups such as DC214, finding skilled but often overlooked practitioners. His approach \u2014 prioritizing human insight over automated tools \u2014 was validated when he uncovered a high-severity vulnerability in Android\u2019s Enterprise Mobility Suite, one that had gone undetected since 2014 until Google confirmed it.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t beat the human mind,\u201d Stobaugh said. \u201cIt took the human perspective and insight to just play with it.\u201d<\/p>\n About the competition<\/p>\n Now in its 14th year, the Fort Worth Business Plan Competition helps local entrepreneurs develop the tools, strategy and mindset to grow their businesses for long-term success, culminating in a written business plan. Along the way, competitors receive coaching and mentorship from groups including Accelerate Fort Worth, Ensemble Coworking, Foundations EDC, SCORE Fort Worth and TechFW.<\/p>\n The following competitors will be pitching in the finale on Oct. 14:<\/p>\n Create + Collaborate<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 A nonprofit helping first-generation college students transition into adulthood through mentoring, leadership training and life skills.<\/p>\n Fort Worth STEAM Academy<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 A tuition-free public charter middle school focused on personalized learning and advanced STEAM education.<\/p>\n Modern Menagerie Interiors<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 A full-service interior studio that offers space planning, custom furnishings and project management for remodels and new construction.<\/p>\n OakSpy Signs and Graphics<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 A custom sign solution business that specializes in ADA-compliant signage.<\/p>\n Open-Minded Counseling<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Offers mental health and wellness services through in-person, virtual or hybrid sessions.<\/p>\n Story and Strategy PR<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 A boutique public relations agency with a focus on healthcare, nonprofit and higher education.<\/p>\n