What Hackers Academy does

Hackers Academy is a hands-on cybersecurity training platform founded in 2013 by Tarek (MSc in Information Security), operating under US jurisdiction with stated GCC-based operations in Dubai. The company delivers practitioner-led training in penetration testing, cloud security, SOC analysis, incident response, and AI cybersecurity through a catalog of 150+ courses available on-demand and via live sessions at major global cybersecurity conferences (Black Hat USA, Europe, India, and MEA). The platform is built on Zenler.com infrastructure and differentiates through cloud-based hands-on labs that are accessible from any device without local VM setup, eliminating the infrastructure friction common in cybersecurity education. A separate Institution Dashboard provides faculty with real-time course completion, lab activity, assessment scores, and time-on-task analytics, positioning the platform for educational institution integrations.

The company serves three primary segments: individual cybersecurity professionals (self-serve course purchases priced $47-$297 USD), educational institutions and universities (per-seat and site-license subscriptions with faculty dashboards), and enterprise and government organizations (custom enterprise training). The trainer bench is small but credentialed, including Tarek (ex-Verizon, MBC, Qualys, OWASP Dubai Chapter Leader), Iman (PhD in Computer Science, MSc in AI), Tim (ex-Microsoft, Azure/AD specialist), Khalifa (network penetration tester, 0-day researcher), and Abdulrahaman (OT/ICS cybersecurity, ex-Siemens Energy, EY). Marketed logos include US Department of Homeland Security, US Air Force, US Navy, Bank of America, IBM Security, Mandiant, Palo Alto Networks, Nestlé, and Hitachi, with stated 50+ enterprise clients and 70,000+ professionals trained lifetime.

Revenue is generated through three streams: individual course sales (one-time perpetual licenses), institutional licensing (subscription per-seat and site-license models), and live training events at Black Hat conferences (professional services). The company is privately held, founder-owned, and bootstrapped with no institutional funding rounds disclosed. The platform reports a 4.9/5 rating from 70,000+ professionals, a 95% satisfaction rate for institutional programs, and a 94% course completion rate for institutional learners.

Name

Hackers Academy

Legal name

Hackers Academy

Website

https://hackersacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hackers Academy is a cybersecurity training platform founded in 2013 that delivers hands-on, practitioner-led courses in penetration testing, cloud security, SOC analysis, and incident response. It serves individual professionals, universities, and enterprise and government organizations through online courses, institutional licensing, and live events at Black Hat conferences globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Training & Education

NAICS

Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Computer Training (61142), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cybersecurity Technical Skills (Security Engineering, SOC, Pen Testing) (EDABAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cybersecurity (General) (EDAOAIAB), Cybersecurity Learning Platforms (EDAFANAF), Cybersecurity (EDAAAPAC)

Keywords

• Cybersecurity training
• Ethical hacking courses
• Penetration testing services
• Online certification programs
• Information security education

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Individual Course Sales: Self-serve online course purchases for individual professionals. Courses priced individually ranging from $47 to $297 USD.
2. Institutional Licensing: Per-seat and site-license models for universities and organizations. Pricing scaled to student count and course scope with dedicated support.
3. Live Training Events: Revenue from in-person training sessions at cybersecurity conferences including Black Hat events globally

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hackers Academy provides online cybersecurity training through 16+ self-paced courses covering ethical hacking, penetration testing, and information security certifications, delivered via a cloud-based learning platform with hands-on labs. It also offers professional penetration testing services and enterprise dashboards for institutional clients.

Product overview

Hackers Academy offers a cybersecurity training ecosystem consisting of an online learning platform with cloud-based labs and an institution dashboard for educational partners. The platform provides structured learning roadmaps (Beginner, Intermediate, Specialized) containing 16+ courses covering topics from ethical hacking fundamentals to enterprise penetration testing, Azure security, Active Directory exploitation, and incident response. Services include professional penetration testing offerings (Cloud Security Assessment, Red Teaming, API/Web/Mobile/Infrastructure Penetration Testing, and Incident Response). The training is delivered through both on-demand courses and live events at major cybersecurity conferences (Black Hat USA, Black Hat India, Black Hat MEA, Black Hat Europe). All courses include hands-on labs using industry-standard tools like Kali Linux, Burp Suite, Wireshark, and Metasploit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Cybersecurity Course Library A catalog of 16+ self-paced online cybersecurity courses covering ethical hacking, penetration testing, and information security topics, sold individually to learners at $47–$297 per course.
• Cloud-Based Hands-On Labs

Quantifiable outcome

• Students land roles at IBM, Mandiant, Bank of America, and government agencies
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Black HatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for delivering live training sessions at Black Hat conferences globally. Tarek is an international trainer at Black Hat USA, Black Hat MEA, and other major conferences. Courses include Certified Azure Penetration Tester, Certified SOC Analyst, C-Level AI Cyber Security for Executives.
• GISECcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTarek serves as Technical Advisor at GISEC, the largest security conference in the Middle East. Strategic relationship for regional training and conference presence.
• HITBmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational trainer Tarek teaches at HITB (Hack In The Box) conferences, a major cybersecurity knowledge platform.
• Zenler.comcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline course platform provider and data processor. Zenler hosts the training platform with data processing addendum in place. Website hosted on Zenler.com infrastructure.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• TryHackMe: TryHackMe is a subscription-based, hands-on cybersecurity learning platform with a similar beginner-to-advanced progression and cloud labs. Targets individual learners and educational institutions with a freemium model that competes with Hackers Academy's lower-priced course tier.
• TCM Security: TCM Security is a practitioner-led cybersecurity training company focused on penetration testing and web application security. Comparable offering scope and audience with Hackers Academy at smaller scale.

Broad incumbents

• SANS Institute: SANS is the dominant incumbent in cybersecurity training, offering GIAC-certified courses across defensive and offensive security. It competes for enterprise training budgets, government contracts, and live event training slots that Hackers Academy also targets.
• Pluralsight: Pluralsight is a broad technology and cybersecurity learning platform with enterprise seat-based licensing. Competes with Hackers Academy in the corporate L&D and enterprise training category, though with significantly wider topic coverage.

Direct peers

• Cybrary: Cybrary is an online cybersecurity training platform serving individuals and enterprise teams with courses across offensive, defensive, and compliance topics. Competes directly for the individual professional and enterprise upskilling segments.
• Hack The Box: Hack The Box offers hands-on hacking labs, enterprise training, and certifications aimed at the same offensive security practitioner segment. Both companies monetize through individual subscriptions, institutional/enterprise licensing, and certifications.
• OffSec: OffSec (parent of OSCP) is the most direct comparable — a practitioner-led, hands-on penetration testing and offensive security training platform selling individual courses and certifications. Operates the same learner segment as Hackers Academy and competes for Black Hat training slots.
• INE Security: INE (formerly eLearnSecurity) provides technical cybersecurity and networking training with hands-on labs, individual and enterprise tiers. Closely aligned with Hackers Academy's positioning around practical, tool-based skill development.
• PentesterLab: PentesterLab focuses exclusively on web application and infrastructure penetration testing training through hands-on exercises. Targets the same technical practitioner audience as Hackers Academy's pen testing courses.
• Antisyphon Training: Antisyphon Training offers practitioner-led, affordable cybersecurity training across blue team, red team, and cloud security. Comparable instructor-driven positioning and individual course pricing to Hackers Academy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hackersacademy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hackers Academy