Founder Insights: How Locke CEO Connor Peters Is Tackling Identity Challenges in Cybersecurity from Rochester
- Connected Know
- Jan 20
- 3 min read
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — By the time Connor Peters graduated college at 19, he had already launched a business, managed IT systems, and identified a problem he couldn’t ignore. Today, as CEO of Locke, a Rochester-based cybersecurity company founded in 2022, Peters is building software designed to solve one of the most persistent and overlooked challenges in modern IT, identity.
Peters grew up in Geneseo, New York, and earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from SUNY Brockport, graduating summa cum laude with minors in computer science and business administration. His technical aptitude emerged early. At 15, while still in college, he launched Mainsail Studio, a website design firm that he would later run full time for nearly two years.
At the same time, Peters was working as the sole systems administrator for a separate college an experience that proved formative. “I spent about 40 percent of my time resetting student and faculty passwords,” he said. “I knew exactly who everyone was but the computers didn’t.”
That disconnect between people and systems became the seed for Locke. “The problem wasn’t access,” Peters said. “It was identity. Systems didn’t understand users the way humans do.” The inefficiency and security risk of that gap stuck with him, eventually prompting him to build a solution.
After graduating, Peters ran Mainsail Studio full time before taking an unexpected detour into the music industry, managing his friend Carson James Argenna through a record deal with Columbia Records. The experience sharpened his understanding of storytelling, negotiation, and distribution skills that would later prove critical in entrepreneurship.
In 2022, Peters formally launched Locke, positioning the company at the intersection of identity and cybersecurity. While the product itself continues to evolve, early traction has come through partnerships rather than hype. “We have four partnerships with local IT companies,” he said. “They’re actively referring clients to us because they believe in the product. Getting to a point where something you built is actually usefulthat’s what I’m most proud of.”
Peters credits NextCorps with playing a meaningful role in Locke’s early development. “They provide a great space to work and grow,” he said. “The entrepreneurs-in-residence and founder roundtables have been especially impactful.”
Like many early-stage founders, Peters has wrestled with challenges around distribution and time allocation. “Figuring out how to get the product into the right hands was hard,” he said. “Time management was another big one.” Recent advances in LLM-assisted software development, he noted, have helped rebalance that equation, allowing him to move faster without sacrificing focus.
“If you can’t tell it, you can’t sell it,”
The best advice Peters has received remains simple and enduring. “If you can’t tell it, you can’t sell it,” he said, crediting his Uncle Steve. “That applies to products, companies, and even yourself.”
Peters chose to build Locke in Rochester for reasons that extend beyond economics. “The access to fresh water is unparalleled,” he said. “The cost of living is reasonable, and people here genuinely want you to succeed.” He also points to Rochester’s legacy of globally recognized companies. “For such a small city, we’ve produced some five-letter names that changed the world,” he said. “I hope to carry on that tradition.”
Outside of work, Peters is an avid marathon and ultramarathon runner, a frequent hiker, and spends much of his downtime exploring local trails with his dog, Rocky. His go-to spots include SEA Restaurant, Jim’s on Main, and coffee meetings at Boulder Coffee or Java’s.
As Locke continues to grow, Peters represents a new generation of Rochester founders: technically rigorous, globally minded, and deeply committed to building meaningful companies close to home.
Fast Facts
Category | Detail |
Founder | Connor Peters |
Company | Locke |
Founded | 2022 |
Headquarters | Rochester, NY |
Industry | Cybersecurity |
Position | CEO |
Education | SUNY Brockport, BS Computer Information Systems |
Hometown | Geneseo, NY |
Favorite Restaurant | |
Favorite Local Business | |
Favorite Activity | Hiking |
Coffee / Founder Meetups | |
About the Founder Spotlight
The Connected Know Founder Spotlight is a weekly feature highlighting the entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders shaping Rochester’s startup and business ecosystem. Each profile offers insight into the people behind local companies driving innovation, growth, and long-term economic momentum.
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