Founder Spotlight 🔦 Harriet Farlow’s Journey: From New Wave to Vogue Magazine

Meet Harriet Farlow, a trailblazing New Wave and 10x alumna tackling one of today’s biggest challenges—AI security. As the founder of Mileva Security Labs, she’s equipping businesses with the tools to protect their AI systems against emerging threats, making the future of AI safer for everyone.

From Data Scientist to AI Security Pioneer

Harriet’s passion for technology and innovation has been the driving force behind her journey. In 2016, she graduated from ANU with a Bachelor in Physics and Anthropology. She worked as a data scientist and consultant, and then in 2019 moved to New York where she worked with Fortune 500 companies. Her time there was pivotal, offering her firsthand exposure to the rapid growth of emerging technologies like AI and Machine Learning. The pandemic shifted things, and she returned to Australia, and started her PhD in her home country alongside her new role at the Australian Signals Directorate, where she eventually worked her way up to acting Technical Director. 

It was during that time that Harriet discovered the field of adversarial machine learning — which is the ways in which AI models could be hacked or compromised — a topic that wasn’t widely discussed outside the national security sector. “I just thought it was insane that in all the years I’d spent working as a data scientist, this had never crossed my radar. It wasn’t taught or talked about, even though it was a major vulnerability.” The deeper she dived into the topic, the more she realised it was a critical issue: companies were rapidly adopting AI without proper safeguards, leaving them vulnerable to emerging risks. And this problem became the catalyst for Mileva Security Labs.  

A New Wave of Support 

Harriet’s journey to building her company gained momentum when she joined the New Wave Program in 2023. She participated in the online cohort, while juggling her PhD and startup responsibilities. She found New Wave’s format to be exactly what she needed.

“New Wave wasn’t just about learning—it was about the community. As someone who was becoming a founder, that support was invaluable.” 

At the 11th New Wave Showcase, her venture earned First Place ($4,000) and the Doone Roisin Business Innovation Award ($2,500), securing $6,500 in total non-dilutive funding.

“We thought it’d just be good practice, but winning two awards was a huge surprise. However, it gave me the confidence to quit my job and go all in. The validation meant everything.” 

In April 2023, Harriet made the pivotal decision to leave her full-time job and invest her life savings into her startup. The decision wasn’t easy, but “the idea of staying in a desk job was far scarier than taking the risk.” New Wave also provided Harriet with a key lesson in adaptability. “Sometimes the market isn’t ready for your solution. But if you’re not communicating your idea well, the problem isn’t the market—it’s you. I had to learn to refine my messaging and help people understand why AI security matters.” 

Scaling 10x  

Following the success of New Wave, Harriet joined the UNSW 10x Accelerator, a program to help startups scale their impact. The experience supported with product development, expanded Harriet’s team, and created connections with industry mentors and investors.  

“10x was incredibly helpful. We had access to a network of people who could advocate for us, and that made all the difference.” 

The program also gave Mileva Security Labs the breathing room to grow, with seed funding that allowed Harriet to keep building without the immediate pressure of venture capital. “For a long time, I didn’t want outside investment. I hoped to bootstrap the business entirely. But the seed funding gave us the ability to grow faster without sacrificing too much control.” 

From New Wave to Vogue Magazine  

Harriet’s dedication to protecting AI systems hasn’t gone unnoticed. In December 2024 she was named a Vogue Codes Future Innovator finalist, a recognition she describes as “surreal but deeply meaningful”. Reflecting on the recognition, Harriet admits, “It was such a random, unexpected thing.  No one in my industry would ever expect to open Vogue and see someone like me featured.” Yet, it’s proof that her mission to secure AI is making waves across industries, blending innovation with influence in ways she never imagined. 

For Harriet, the most important advice she can offer aspiring founders is to take the leap. “There will always be reasons not to start, and sometimes those reasons are just barriers we create because we’re scared. But you’ll never know what’s possible until you try.” 

Inspired by Harriet’s Journey? Take Your First Step!

If you’re a female founder looking to launch your startup, New Wave is where it starts.

👉 Register for the New Wave Info Session 
📅 February 12th at 12:00 PM (online)

🚀 Not sure where to begin? Join our Problem Discovery & Ideation Workshop on February 17th at 4 PM to uncover opportunities and start your journey!