We’re excited to reveal the 36 cyber startups, SMEs and scaleups joining the Grow and Scale streams of our Cyber Runway accelerator.
Cyber Runway has been designed to address some of the biggest challenges facing cyber security, such as diversity and inclusion and regional representation, and supports the most promising innovators at various stages of growth.
Now in its second year, Cyber Runway is the largest government-backed cyber startup accelerator in the UK. Plexal is delivering it in partnership with Deloitte and the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) and it’s funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The accelerator is part of the government’s mission of making the UK a responsible and democratic cyber power, as laid out in its National Cyber Strategy 2022.
The 2022 Cyber Runway cohort includes some of the most innovative and high-potential cyber startups in the UK. They’re solving challenges like ransomware, zero-day attacks, secure authentication, incident response and improving cyber awareness. Members include CyberMind, which uses AI to help under-pressure cyber professionals manage their mental health and improve their performance, Quantum Dice, which is developing the world’s first compact source-device independent quantum random number generator, and Worldr, which provides privacy, security and compliance layers for the most popular business communication tools.
45% of Cyber Runway members are based outside of London and the South East of England, 65% of members have women in their leadership teams and 28% are run by founders from Black, ethnic or minority backgrounds. Cyber Runway will be delivered in person and virtually to maximise its nationwide reach.
Startups will benefit from:
- business masterclasses (both virtual and in person)
- mentoring, engineering support from CSIT and access to CSIT’s data and testing centre
- technical product development support
- opportunities to connect with international cyber hubs
- regional events
- connections to investors and corporates to fuel growth
Members will also get support to help them build more inclusive, socially responsible and environmentally-friendly businesses.
Saj Huq, Chief Commercial Officer and head of innovation at Plexal, said:
“Our health sector, telecoms network, food system and businesses are being bombarded by increasingly sophisticated cyber security threats. To become a global science and technology superpower and harness the potential of emerging technologies, we need to nurture the very best homegrown cyber security innovations. Cyber Runway is designed to help companies start, grow and scale businesses capable of addressing these challenges, and our new cohort represents some of the most exciting startups with massive growth potential.”
Cyber minister Julia Lopez said:
“We are backing businesses on the frontline defending the UK against cyber threats. Our investment in these innovative British startups helps create skilled jobs and a more diverse workforce, which strengthens our national security as well as our booming tech industry.”
