The High School Class That Started It All
Andrew DeFeo first experienced what it felt like to build something real while he was still in high school.
At Barrington High School, he joined a pilot class that functioned like a startup incubator. Students were placed into small groups, each person pitched an idea, the group selected one concept, and then spent months trying to turn it into a working business. The process ended with a pitch to a board of investors, structured much like a Shark Tank panel. For Andrew, that class felt different from everything else he had done in school. “It was the first time I took a class where it was real world,” he says. “You’re not talking about textbook stuff. You’re in the trenches trying to figure out how to start a company.” He remembers it as the coolest experience he had ever had in a classroom.
That early exposure stayed with him. It shaped how he thought about learning and about work. Instead of memorizing theory, he became drawn to environments where ideas were tested through action. That mindset played a major role in where he chose to go to college. He enrolled at High Point University because of its focus on entrepreneurship, pitch competitions, and access to resident entrepreneurs. He spent time presenting ideas to experienced founders, gathering feedback, and refining his thinking through iteration. During those years, he constantly tinkered with projects, experimenting with ways to turn curiosity into something tangible. He describes it as trying to turn one dollar into two, over and over again, simply to see what he could learn from the process.
After graduating, he stepped into a more traditional role, working in sales inside a structured enterprise environment. The position placed him close to early stage products and emerging offerings. His job centered on taking new products to market, speaking directly with customers, collecting feedback, and organizing structured sessions so product teams could understand what users were actually experiencing. That role gave him a front row seat to how companies identify problems and how difficult it can be to build solutions that truly address them. He spent about two years in that environment, learning how feedback flows through organizations and where it often breaks down. Over time, the desire to build something of his own became harder to ignore.
The company he eventually founded grew out of a problem that sits beneath nearly every digital interaction. Cybersecurity, at its core, depends on cryptography. Data encryption, identity verification, and secure communication all rely on mathematical assumptions about what computers can and cannot solve efficiently. Andrew explains that modern digital systems operate under the belief that certain cryptographic problems remain out of reach for traditional computing. “All of these really foundational things that we don’t think about day to day are backed by cryptography,” he says. That trust has shaped how information moves across the internet for decades.
What drew his attention was a shift happening just beneath the surface. Quantum computing continues to advance, with companies like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Google investing heavily in its development. Those advances introduce a new reality. The cryptographic methods that feel secure today become far more vulnerable when quantum computers reach broader commercial viability. Andrew describes it as a paradigm shift. Enterprises face a future where the systems protecting their data today require transformation to remain secure tomorrow. The challenge lies in the transition itself.
Quantum Solutions exists to help organizations navigate that transition. The company does not invent new cryptographic algorithms. Instead, it focuses on helping enterprises understand their current exposure. The platform provides posture reports that identify where critical applications rely on cryptography vulnerable to quantum threats. From there, the company offers remediation paths and protection methods to move systems from their current state toward a future resilient environment. Ongoing telemetry ensures that protections remain intact as environments evolve. Andrew frames the work as helping companies see clearly where risk exists and how to move forward without disrupting their operations.
In the earliest days, the company was a solo effort. The idea began forming around February, and for months Andrew worked on it alone. He describes that period as intense and educational. He taught himself what he needed, building prototypes and refining his thesis for how the problem could be solved. Eventually, he brought on a partner who became his co founder and chief technology officer. The addition changed the trajectory of the company. His partner brought more than three decades of experience in technology and security systems, along with a deep understanding of complex infrastructure. “He’s been really great to help me understand some of the more technical aspects of the problem,” Andrew says. Together, they built a prototype and then engaged a development team to turn it into an enterprise ready solution.
The pace of learning remained relentless. Cybersecurity and quantum readiness represent a niche space where best practices continue to evolve. Andrew describes the challenge as constant motion. “As soon as we start putting together a good foundation, something changes,” he explains. New research emerges. Industry consensus shifts. The work requires absorbing those changes while preserving momentum. Rather than discarding prior progress, the team focuses on integrating new information into their approach. Over time, this process helped them define their niche and sharpen their product differentiation.
One of the scrappiest moments in the company’s journey came through an early design partnership with a large enterprise. Conversations began months before any formal agreement existed. Andrew connected with a senior cybersecurity leader and shared his thesis for addressing the quantum threat. At the time, his direct experience in cybersecurity felt limited. He relied on his ability to learn quickly, articulate the problem clearly, and propose a thoughtful solution. “The scrappiest thing was being able to quickly understand the problem, build a unique solution thesis, and show it to them,” he says. That effort led to securing an early adopter partnership that now shapes the product’s development. Over the next year, the collaboration will help refine the platform into something ready for broad enterprise use.
Throughout the process, Andrew has remained focused on impact rather than outcomes like acquisition or exit. He acknowledges that founders often think about those possibilities. At the same time, he centers his motivation elsewhere. “I just want to build something that helps companies and has a lasting meaningful impact,” he says. That goal serves as his north star. By staying focused on solving a real problem well, he believes the rest follows naturally.
When he speaks to people interested in entrepreneurship, his advice centers on tinkering. He believes modern tools have lowered the barrier to experimentation in powerful ways. Advances in artificial intelligence and accessible development platforms make it possible to test ideas quickly. He recognizes how demanding full time work can feel, especially roles that stretch late into the evening. Even so, he encourages people to explore problems they notice around them. “If you notice something your company isn’t solving, think about how to solve it,” he says. Learning a bit of code or building a simple prototype can create clarity and momentum.
Taking the leap requires space. For Andrew, leaving his prior role to pursue an MBA created room for creative thinking. That decision freed mental energy and allowed him to explore new ideas more deeply. He describes it as giving himself permission to step away from what felt stable in order to explore what felt meaningful. That choice ultimately made room for Quantum Solutions to take shape.
The most impactful advice he received arrived during moments of doubt. Impostor syndrome showed up regularly, just as it had earlier in his career. An advisor and investor offered a simple reminder that stuck. “The difference between succeeding and failing is giving up,” Andrew recalls. He thinks about that idea daily. Building something meaningful involves barriers, failed attempts, and moments where progress feels slow. He views those moments as part of the process rather than signs to stop. Persistence becomes a strategy rather than a trait.
Today, Andrew continues building Quantum Solutions with that mindset. He remains close to the problem, committed to learning as the landscape evolves, and focused on delivering value that lasts. The work feels complex and demanding, yet deeply aligned with what first drew him into entrepreneurship years ago. Building something real, solving a hard problem, and staying with it long enough to see it matter.
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