Cyber Runway – Launch

Applications closed

A bootcamp designed to help budding entrepreneurs, graduates and spinouts get their business off the ground and build connections.

Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and delivered by Plexal, we’ll help you learn and explore if your new cyber startup idea can get off the ground and you will learn the aspects you need to get started your company started. 

Applications closed

Over the course of the programme, we’ll give you a bespoke programme designed to help you understand the cyber ecosystem better, connections to key industry stakeholders and give you all the tools you need to launch your company.

Have a question for us? Check out our FAQs or get in touch.

WHAT WE’LL COVER

From group workshops to 1:1 coaching with hand-picked experts, we’ll help you get the expertise that you need to lay the foundations for your business. These are some examples of what we’ll cover… 

Ecosystem
Understanding the cyber security landscape and trends
Proposition
Developing your value proposition and communicating your idea
Sales
Building your start up’s sales strategy
Strategy
Validating customer groups, competition, positioning and market sizing
Funding
Exploring what funding routes are right for you
Culture
Prioritising resilience and mental health
Diversity
Putting diversity and inclusion at the heart of your business

Any questions

KEY DATES

14 May

Applications open

14 June

Applications close

9 July

Virtual welcome event

16-18 July

Launch Bootcamp in London

August 2024 – February 2025

Programme runs

BENEFITS

Develop a value proposition
Build and test your product
Validate customer groups
Engineering support from CSIT with mentors support with product development

CRITERIA

Cyber Runway: Launch is open to anyone who want to develop a start-up idea in Cyber. We’re looking for people from all backgrounds, whether you’re in academia, government or a technologist – and those who don’t have a background in cyber at all. Just come with a great idea that solves an important problem.

HERE’S WHAT OUR LAUNCH ALUMNI SAYS

Over three bustling days in July 2023, we supported 24 individuals at Plexal Stratford on enhancing their startup ideas and how to get the company ready for levelling up through a series of workshops during the Cyber Runway: Launch bootcamp.

Reflecting on the Launch bootcamp, Alan Every, Innovation Associate at Plexal, says: “It was a real privilege to deliver the Cyber Runway: Launch bootcamp to such a hungry, enthusiastic and diverse range of people, who all truly want to make a positive impact.

“From aims of meeting a co-founder and finding inspiration through to ideas that span everything from IoT and connected vehicles through to cyber training and child safety, no stone has been left unturned by these budding entrepreneurs.

“I’m delighted to welcome these budding cyber entrepreneurs to the Cyber Runway community and eager to witness their ongoing journeys now they’re part of the Plexal ecosystem.”

The Launch aims and ideas of 24 budding entrepreneurs

“I’ve been a co-founder before, but this is the first time I’ve ever participated in a programme like this. I found the programme was very useful for focusing our message and execution of our plan. The information that was covered in just one week, would have taken months to cover on our own. I wish we had the opportunity to attend the bootcamp sooner in the life of Sitehop!” – Melissa

“Quite simply the best business support programme I have been on. An invaluable experience that has provided a host of knowledge and contacts that has not only reduced my learning curve in the start up phase but likely to be a significant contributor as why PinsPin will be successful. The team at Cyber Runway should be recognised for their excellent programme and hard work” – Peter

Meet the 2022 Launch alumni