Sidney Black Consulting Inc.
Household Cybersecurity & Due Diligence
Project Description
My name is Charlie McNamara. I have joined the IFundWomen platform to raise funds for the launch of my agency, Sidney Black Consulting. I am a Private Investigator (PI) with an Agency (Sole-Proprietorship) in Ontario, specializing in OSINT i.e., open-source investigative research, especially online. Our services are designed to be affordable and flexible, as we believe that investigative services should be accessible to everyone. We aim to serve households, individuals, nonprofit organizations, community organizations, and small business.
We are raising the working capital we need to launch what is a first-of-it's-kind cybersecurity service for households. We offer private individuals and their families access to professional due diligence, for everyday transactions.
The service design, based on the mechanics of social engineering, and user psychology, takes a non-technological approach to preventing fraud. It works by focusing on support for the user, as opposed to "troubleshooting" the technology. From an operations standpoint, it is due-diligence scaled-down and customized for household use to be fast, easy, discreet, and available on call.
The concept is developed based on the combined expertise in community service and open-source intelligence investigation that is our signature. What is missing are the resources we need for market research, testing, and development; office space, computer equipment, and additional staff.
Thank you in advance for your support. If you have any questions you can reach us by email: [email protected]
Updates
The Campaign FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What does Sidney Black Consulting need funding for?
We need three things that we can not move forward without.
- Office Space: We need to relocate. We are currently a work-from-home business. We can continue with this model, it is the most economical and convenient, but the "home" must be private, with a private entrance, and be accessibly central. Where we are located now is not suitable. For research and development of our cybersecurity service, we need an open space for collaboration, while maintaining a capacity for private consultation.
We need to strike a balance between affordability, discretion, flexibility, and security. We have found a place - a lucky miracle in Toronto - but we need a deposit to secure it. - Research & Development: We have a draft design ready for how we expect our household due diligence service to operate, for the client and for us as providers. We have confidence in the experience and skills we have applied to this design.
However, no one has offered a service like this before. It is new to the industry, and to the market, which makes the growing pains that are to be expected all ours.
Going forward without doing careful market research and testing of our plan for operations will lead to inevitable mistakes playing themselves out in the marketplace. It is crucial that the first impression we make is one of caution and due diligence (for obvious reasons). - Marketing & Communications: We are introducing a service to the market that it has nothing to compare to. Private investigation is not new, nor is due diligence, but we are targeting a mostly-new market, in a new way. Our marketing and communications must be handled by professionals with experience making a strong first impression.
- Office Space: We need to relocate. We are currently a work-from-home business. We can continue with this model, it is the most economical and convenient, but the "home" must be private, with a private entrance, and be accessibly central. Where we are located now is not suitable. For research and development of our cybersecurity service, we need an open space for collaboration, while maintaining a capacity for private consultation.
- What if I want more detailed information?
We would love to hear from you! If you have questions, or to view a copy of our business plan, our email is [email protected].
We will provide 30 hrs of due diligence or background checking services, to you or to the organization of your choice. 30 hours is enough for thorough, but non-invasive research into up to three people or organizations.
The people could be shortlisted candidates for a job; the organizations could be partners being considered for work on a public project. Credentials (ex. educational achievements) and experience verification may be included.
Give me a mystery to unravel. I will invest whatever time and resources it takes to find what you're looking for. Then, when it's done, I will prepare a report per the legal standard, with a research summary and analysis.
All sources will be noted, catalogued, and kept per legal standard. Information will be treated as though it may be used in court. Even if that doesn't matter per se, it means that you can check the source of anything easily and directly.
We are professional and discreet. Examples of cases include:
- Wellness Checks i.e., "Missing Persons"
- Threat Assessments i.e., determine the identity and history of someone threatening or invasive (ex. a "Troll" or "Stalker").
- Confirmation of Integrity i.e. for a new online relationship, assertions made about a property, etc.
Just Because I Care
Rewards
We will provide 30 hrs of due diligence or background checking services, to you or to the organization of your choice. 30 hours is enough for thorough, but non-invasive research into up to three people or organizations.
The people could be shortlisted candidates for a job; the organizations could be partners being considered for work on a public project. Credentials (ex. educational achievements) and experience verification may be included.
Give me a mystery to unravel. I will invest whatever time and resources it takes to find what you're looking for. Then, when it's done, I will prepare a report per the legal standard, with a research summary and analysis.
All sources will be noted, catalogued, and kept per legal standard. Information will be treated as though it may be used in court. Even if that doesn't matter per se, it means that you can check the source of anything easily and directly.
We are professional and discreet. Examples of cases include:
- Wellness Checks i.e., "Missing Persons"
- Threat Assessments i.e., determine the identity and history of someone threatening or invasive (ex. a "Troll" or "Stalker").
- Confirmation of Integrity i.e. for a new online relationship, assertions made about a property, etc.
Just Because I Care