Story of Drata: Software to Help Companies Achieve & Maintain Compliance
Story of Drata:
A Dream Beyond the Stars
Adam Markowitz grew up in Westlake Village, California,
dreaming of becoming an astronaut. His fascination with aerospace led him to
pursue a degree in structural engineering at UC San Diego, followed by a
master’s in astronautical engineering. His early career began with the Space
Shuttle Main Engine team at Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne in 2008, where he
worked for three years.
Struggles and New Ideas
Despite his technical brilliance, Markowitz faced rejection
during job interviews, finding it harder than rocket science itself. These
struggles sparked his creativity. He decided to design a digital portfolio
prototype that showcased his projects and achievements, hoping to impress
potential employers.
The Birth of Portfolium
The prototype turned into a full-fledged product called Portfolium
in 2014. With the help of his childhood friend, Royce Rowan, and later Daniel
Marashlian, Adam built a platform for students to present their skills beyond
resumes. Soon after, Adam’s brother, Troy Markowitz, joined as VP of
Partnerships.
Building a Platform for Students
Portfolium quickly became a valuable tool for students
struggling to transition into careers. It grew into a social platform where
students could share portfolios with professional contacts, gaining traction
across thousands of institutions.
Success and Acquisition
By 2019, Portfolium had expanded to over 3,600 institutions
and connected more than 5 million students worldwide. After raising $7 million
in funding, the platform was acquired by Instructure Inc., marking a
significant milestone for the founding trio.
Encountering Compliance Challenges
While building Portfolium, Adam and his team encountered the
world of compliance. Universities demanded SOC 2 reports as proof of data
security before engaging in business. The process was repetitive, costly, and
time-consuming, planting the seed of an idea for a better way.
A Shift Toward Security
After Portfolium’s acquisition, Adam, Troy, and Daniel began
analyzing the compliance space in depth. They realized that maintaining
compliance frameworks like SOC 2 was even harder than achieving them initially.
The process demanded automation to become sustainable for high-growth
companies.
Founding of Drata
In July 2020, Adam Markowitz, his brother Troy, and Daniel
Marashlian officially founded Drata in San Diego, California. Their goal
was clear: automate compliance processes to save companies time, money, and
effort while ensuring continuous security.
Rapid Growth and Funding
Drata’s idea resonated strongly with businesses. The startup
raised $3.2 million in seed funding soon after launch, followed by a $25
million Series A. In less than 18 months, Drata achieved unicorn status with a
$1 billion valuation, propelled by a $100 million Series B.
Story of Drata: Software to Help Companies Achieve & Maintain Compliance# startup#entrepreneur#networth#investor#AI STory#shark tank#Drata story
Becoming an Industry Leader
By 2023, Drata had raised $328 million in Series C funding,
backed by investors such as GGV Capital, ICONIQ Growth, and Intuit Ventures.
This positioned Drata as one of the fastest-growing compliance automation
companies in the world.
Expanding Beyond SOC 2
Drata initially focused on SOC 2 workflows but quickly
expanded its platform to include ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, and other compliance
frameworks. This broader coverage made the platform appealing to organizations
across industries.
Why Companies Chose Drata
The platform stood out because many companies were still
using outdated tools like Excel to manage compliance. Drata replaced messy
spreadsheets with a centralized, automated system that streamlined audits,
evidence collection, and security reporting.
Key Features of the Platform
Drata introduced features like centralized document
management, customizable policies, pre-mapped controls, security reporting, and
integrations with over 170 tools, including AWS, Google Cloud, and GitHub.
These capabilities made compliance simpler and more scalable.
Culture of Security and Trust
Adam often emphasized that the best way to earn trust is to
prove you deserve it. Drata’s automation tools not only helped companies stay
compliant but also fostered a culture of security from day one, enabling
businesses to earn and maintain customer trust.
The Future of Drata
Today, Drata serves thousands of companies worldwide,
including fast-growing startups and large enterprises. With continuous
innovation and automation at its core, Drata is shaping the future of
compliance, helping organizations protect data, prevent breaches, and navigate
regulatory complexity with ease.
Drata Timeline
- 2008
– Adam Markowitz joins Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, working on NASA’s
Space Shuttle Main Engine.
- 2011
– Works at Solar Turbines as a mechanical design engineer.
- 2014
– Launch of Portfolium, a portfolio-sharing platform for students.
- 2019
– Portfolium acquired by Instructure Inc. after expanding to 3,600
institutions.
- 2020
(July) – Drata founded by Adam Markowitz, Troy Markowitz, and Daniel
Marashlian in San Diego, California.
- 2020
(Late) – Raised $3.2M seed funding.
- 2021
(Early) – Raised $25M Series A funding.
- 2021
(Late) – Closed $100M Series B, achieving unicorn status with
$1B valuation in under 2 years.
- 2023
– Raised $328M Series C funding from top investors (GGV, ICONIQ, Intuit
Ventures).
- 2023–Present
– Expanded beyond SOC 2 into ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR; serves thousands of
companies worldwide.
