The idea behind Biterra started long before the company existed. Back in the 90s, I was hooked on classroom games and Zoombinis, where learning and play blurred together. Those early experiences showed me how powerful games could be for education.

Fast forward to 2015. I was studying computer games programming at university, and “gamification” was everywhere. But it usually meant little more than sticking a scoreboard on boring tasks, like training. That didn’t feel like a game to me.

During a cybersecurity placement, I discovered CTFs. Suddenly, everything clicked: real puzzles, strategy, competition, and story all tied together. This was gamification done right. I built my first hacking game at uni, then ran CTFs for schools, companies, army squadrons, and universities around the world, watching hundreds of teams dive into my challenges.

That’s how Biterra was born. Inspired by cyberpunk classics like Uplink and Hacknet, Biterra is about more than cybersecurity. It’s about creating immersive, inclusive, story-driven challenges where anyone can experience the thrill of discovery and learning through play.