Pushing the Envelope: How Spec Grows Through Customer POCs

Limits are often artificial, a barrier we create in our own minds.  You don’t know how far you can go until you push past the limits you’ve artificially set. At Spec, we’ve been doing exactly that—pushing through limits, learning, adapting, and solving fraud problems that others miss.

From POC to Fraud-Fighting Breakthrough

A few months ago, we took on our biggest POC yet. A massive online platform, dealing with fraud at a scale we’d never touched before. They told us their bot problem was under control. Turns out, 60-70% of their traffic was automated scripts and fraud attempts. One attacker tried 500 different CVVs across three credit cards.

This was an opportunity to prove everything we’ve built. And we delivered.

But it wasn’t just about detection—it was about strategy. Our ability to track fraud networks, link behaviors across sessions, and provide actionable insights gave this customer visibility they’d never had before. We weren’t just showing them fraud existed; we were showing them how to stop it before it impacted their bottom line.

80K Requests Per Second: Precision at Scale

We hit 80,000 requests per second. That kind of scale pushes the limits of most systems, but we were prepared. We optimized in real-time, ensuring we captured the most important data from each request. The result? A system that handled massive traffic efficiently while saving millions in storage and processing costs.

Instead, we refined our approach, prioritized key fraud signals, and optimized performance—ensuring we captured the most relevant data for decision-making. The result? A system that detected fraud at scale with maximum efficiency while saving millions in storage and processing costs. And we weren’t just stopping fraud; we were demonstrating that our approach delivered unmatched precision and impact.

What did we learn? Efficiency at scale isn’t just about handling traffic—it’s about understanding it. Knowing which data points matter, which signals indicate risk, and how to react instantly makes all the difference. It’s why fraudsters evolve their tactics, and why we evolve even faster.

Site Sentry: The Next Evolution

This experience didn’t just validate our model—it forced us to think bigger. We launched Site Sentry at MRC Vegas, a tool that scans every network request and detects abnormal patterns before fraudsters make their move. We built what fraud prevention actually needs: real-time adaptation.

With fraud tactics changing by the second, it’s no longer enough to react. You have to anticipate. Site Sentry automates that intelligence, scanning every event, linking it to known fraud behaviors, and alerting customers before an attack gains momentum. It’s the future of fraud detection, and we’re leading the way.

The Power of Collaboration

Solving fraud at scale isn’t just about technology—it’s about teamwork.

We’ve learned that pushing boundaries requires every team—engineering, product, and leadership—to work in sync. When things break, we don’t point fingers; we solve. Every challenge has been an opportunity to refine our approach, optimize our systems, and move faster than we thought possible.

We also learned that collaboration with customers is just as important. This POC wasn’t just about what we could do—it was about integrating into their workflow, making fraud detection seamless, and giving them tools that fit their existing infrastructure. That’s what makes a solution stick—when it doesn’t just work, but works exactly where they need it.

Lessons for Entrepreneurs and Operators Tackling Big Problems

1. Speed is your advantage. The faster you adapt, the better your results.
2. Data drives everything. The right signals at the right time change the game.
3. Limits are meant to be tested. We didn’t know we could handle 80K requests per second until we had to.
4. Execution beats size. The best teams aren’t the biggest—they’re the most effective.
5. The right problems push you forward. Every major challenge is an inflection point for growth.
6. Your customers shape your best innovations. The best product developments happen when you’re solving real customer problems, in real-time, with real stakes.

The Big Takeaway

Most fraud solutions aren’t keeping up. We are. And we’re proving it with every customer we work with. We don’t wait for the perfect conditions. We build, test, break, and rebuild stronger.

That’s how Spec grows. That’s how we win. And we’re just getting started.