The Story Behind Illuminis Labs: An Interview on Questioning Everything
- Cade Mercer
- Feb 8
- 3 min read
Q: What led you to start Illuminis Labs?
Most companies follow trends. We dismantle them. Most consultants play it safe. We challenge everything. That’s why Illuminis Labs exists.
For years, I’ve worked in AI, cybersecurity, product development and enterprise strategy—leading in both private and public companies, driving transformation, and solving problems that didn’t have easy answers. But time and again, I saw the same issues: Businesses embracing solutions recklessly, dumb ass Chief Executives, organizations building technology without understanding risk or client visions, and decision-makers being sold innovation without real strategy. So, I built Illuminis Labs—to be different.
Q: What makes Illuminis different?
We’re not just another consultancy. We’re a proving ground for what’s next. Most firms will give you a playbook they have sitting on the shelf; we’ll help you rewrite the rules entirely. We bridge the gaps between AI, cybersecurity, automation, and business transformation, creating strategies that actually work in the real world. We thrive in complexity and love solving the problems others hesitate to touch.
We also get our hands dirty.
We built KYMA Atlantis—the first distributed intelligent agent platform in the mid-2000s. We’ve led AI Red Teaming projects, stress-testing models against real-world adversarial threats. We’ve developed Nexus, an initiative to explore what happens when AI isn’t constrained by traditional policies. We’ve worked with private equity firms on due diligence, helping them evaluate investments with both innovation and risk in mind.
We don’t just analyze cybersecurity—we’ve broken models that Fortune 500s thought were impenetrable. We don’t just advise on business strategy—we’ve helped companies and investors dodge multi-million-dollar investment disasters.
If you’re looking for people who will give you surface-level insights, be polite, follow a DEI script then we’re not your team. If you want partners who will challenge your thinking, push boundaries, and engineer real impact—then we’re your team.
Q: What is the vision behind Illuminis Labs?
The world is evolving too fast for safe, predictable thinking. Our vision is to redefine how businesses adopt AI, manage risk, and drive innovation—by refusing to accept “that’s just how it’s done.” We believe the best solutions come from challenging assumptions, breaking old models, and designing future-proof strategies.
We focus on real-world execution, not theory. We’re building Nexus to explore AI autonomy, conducting Virtuant research on AI-driven intelligence, and actively leading AI security engagements where Red Teams test adversarial attacks against real AI models. We are embracing offensive computing by applying game theory, we are looking at how to automate workflows that create real ROI, we are to put it mildly obsessed with redefining how business operates and evolves in the coming years.
Q: How does Illuminis help organizations?
We work with companies that need more than just another consultant. Whether it’s AI strategy, cybersecurity risk mitigation, business transformation, or cutting-edge R&D, we deliver solutions that are practical, high-impact, and future-ready.
We don’t just advise—we execute.
AI & Emerging Technology – AI strategy, security, model development, automation, and AI governance.
Cybersecurity & Risk Mitigation – AI-driven red teaming, offensive computing, compliance, and risk strategy.
Advisory & Management – Private equity due diligence, leadership coaching, operational transformation.
Research & Futures – Cutting-edge R&D, AI security innovations, and redefining what’s possible.
Q: What kind of people do you want to work with?
The ones who are restless, curious, and unafraid to break the status quo. We work with executives, security leaders, AI researchers, and investors who aren’t satisfied with the usual approach. If you want a feel-good consultancy, we’re not for you. If you want a team that will challenge, innovate, and execute alongside you, we should grab coffee.
This isn’t just business for us.
It’s about building something real, solving problems that matter, and working with people who aren’t afraid to push the limits of what’s possible.
If you’re happy following the crowd, we’re probably not your team, otherwise, reach out - share your thoughts, tell us what fires you up, what keeps you up at night - let's start with just getting to know each other.
🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/illuminis-labs/
📩 Let’s chat: john.gomez@illuminislabs.com
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