Product Research • StackHawk • 2025
StackHawk Vibe
Project Overview
StackHawk Vibe introduced the first DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) solution delivered directly inside AI coding assistants through Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration. The project targeted an emerging market of AI-first builders—developers and non-developers alike using tools like Cursor and Claude Code to build applications conversationally. By embedding security testing into their existing workflow, Vibe eliminated the need for users to context-switch to traditional security dashboards or learn complex security tooling.
Launched as a rapid 2-week MVP sprint with ongoing iteration, Vibe positioned StackHawk at the forefront of AI-assisted development security, reaching an entirely new user base while unexpectedly attracting enterprise interest in AI-driven security workflows.
My Role
As Product Management Intern, I led competitive intelligence and market research that informed Vibe’s strategic positioning and feature prioritization.
Competitive Analysis & Market Research
Conducted comprehensive research on the emerging MCP ecosystem, tracking competitor movements, capabilities, and go-to-market strategies. Analyzed how other security and development tools were approaching AI assistant integrations to identify gaps and opportunities for differentiation.
Strategic Insights & Documentation
Synthesized research findings into actionable insights for product, engineering, and leadership teams. Documented the competitive landscape, highlighted feature opportunities, and tracked market trends in AI-assisted development tools to inform roadmap decisions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Worked closely with product design, engineering, and go-to-market teams to translate research into product decisions. Participated in sprint planning discussions, contributed to feature prioritization, and helped shape messaging around Vibe’s unique value proposition.
The Challenge
The AI coding tools market was projected to reach $99 billion by 2034, with rapid adoption among both traditional developers and a new wave of non-technical builders. My research revealed that while competitors were experimenting with AI integrations, no DAST provider had successfully delivered security testing directly inside AI coding assistants. This represented a first-mover opportunity in an exploding market segment.
Approach
I established ongoing competitive monitoring to track competitor MCP initiatives and feature releases, while documenting the broader ecosystem of tools integrating with AI coding platforms. I synthesized findings into strategic documentation that helped engineering and design teams understand competitive context and make informed decisions quickly during the rapid MVP sprint.
Impact & Outcomes
First-Mover Advantage
StackHawk became the first DAST company to deliver MCP-driven security testing directly inside AI coding assistants, establishing market leadership in an emerging category.
Market Expansion
Successfully reached an entirely new user segment of AI-first builders, expanding StackHawk’s addressable market and attracting unexpected enterprise interest.
Informed Decision-Making
Competitive intelligence provided strategic context that helped teams move quickly and confidently during development and launch.
Key Learnings
In fast-moving markets, the ability to research quickly and synthesize insights creates competitive advantage. I learned that research only creates value when it’s accessible and actionable—structuring findings so different teams could immediately use them for their specific needs became one of my most valuable contributions.