Meet the founders of Headlockr

We’d love to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves. We are Xander van Dijck and Kevin Vugts, true Strapi enthusiasts at heart. Together, we founded Headlockr in 2024 — the #1 Multi-factor authentication plugin built natively for Strapi. Which is a Plug & Play security add-on for Strapi.

Our mission is to make Strapi accessible to everyone—whether you’re a copywriter, developer, or business owner—by providing no-code tools that simplify its use. At the same time, we believe in developer first and flexibility is key, which is why our tools remain fully extensible with custom APIs, SDKs, and UI components.

From Musician to Developer

I’m Xander van Dijck, 32 years old, and my two biggest passions have always been music and computers. In 2013, I graduated from the Pop Academy in Rotterdam, after which I spent 11 years running CLOUDHEAD, an agency where I helped artists grow from small stages to major festivals like Lowlands, Pinkpop, and Down The Rabbit Hole. Alongside that, I was always active in bands myself, playing in groups such as The Afterveins and Anemone.

Then the pandemic hit. Live events came to a standstill, and performing with bands was no longer an option. That’s when I fully immersed myself in developing websites and later, software. I worked on some amazing projects, including the recruitment platform Secondjob, projects for Isa Kriens, and even developing my own SaaS solution for business systems.

In 2022, I met Kevin, who introduced me to React, and I was instantly hooked. React gave me the flexibility and creative freedom to bring all the ideas in my head to life. Not long after, I discovered Strapi, a headless CMS with endless possibilities and an incredibly powerful API. It just so happened that Kevin was also using Strapi for his clients, and when we started working on projects together, the idea quickly emerged to build MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) for Strapi—a crucial feature for securing the Strapi Admin environment.

What I love about Strapi is how accessible it is, with so many opportunities still open for new applications. The possibilities are endless, and I truly feel that Strapi fosters a welcoming and open community, both for experienced and aspiring developers. It’s great to be in a space where you can continuously grow and develop yourself as a developer.

From Employee to Entrepreneur

Kevin: I started my own business back in 2017 while pursuing my degree in ICT & Media Design. Initially, I helped small local clients optimize and build their websites, primarily using WordPress, as it was the most user-friendly solution at the time.

During my internships, I had the opportunity to learn from top industry professionals who helped shape my approach to software development. My first international experience was at Sush Mobile in New Zealand, where I worked on cutting-edge mobile applications and gained valuable insights into agile development. Later, I continued honing my skills at Highstreet Mobile in the Netherlands, contributing to the development of a white-label app used by major retail brands like Scotch & Soda, Burton, and G-Star. These experiences provided me with a strong foundation in mobile/web development, from planning and coding to delivering high-quality products for global brands.

After completing my studies, I worked at an internet marketing agency, where I led innovations in technical solutions using React, headless CMS platforms, and Node.js.

But I soon realized there was more for me beyond working for someone else. Entrepreneurship runs in my blood, so I gradually reduced my part-time job hours and took the leap to focus entirely on my own business.

Going All In By 2019

I made the final decision to go all-in—an exciting but nerve-wracking moment. Initially, I built simple WordPress websites, but before long, I started working on projects that required Strapi integrations for municipalities and SMEs.

My fascination with Strapi already started back in 2017, and since then, I’ve immersed myself in the system. With each project, I refined my expertise to deliver faster, better, and more efficient solutions to my clients.

Building for the Future, Starting Now

What began as a small business I ran alongside my studies has now grown into a specialized team focused on building powerful Strapi solutions. We've build over 100 projects in Strapi and we want to share some of this knowledge with you.

Because you’ve shown interest in our very first product, Headlockr—a multi-factor authentication system—we’ll be sending you some of our most valuable resources in the coming weeks. These insights will help you enhance your website’s/app security and strengthen your online business. Sounds good, right?

P.P.S Let's Connect?

Every month, we share insights, tips, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of our journey on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Connect with Xander on LinkedIn
Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn

Pick your favorite—we promise we won’t take it personally ;)