Cyber Runway: get involved
The innovation fast track for entrepreneurs, startups and scaleups
Launch. Grow. Scale.
From budding entrepreneurs with an idea to growing startups and scaleups that dream big, Cyber Runway fast tracks the growth of innovators.
The accelerator is being delivered in person and virtually across the UK.
You’ll keep 100% of your IP and equity, we’re just interested in helping you grow.
Cyber Runway is funded by DCMS and is delivered by Plexal with support from Deloitte, CyLon and the Centre for Secure Information Technologies.
Apply below and get in touch on cyberrunway@plexal.com if you have any questions or you’d like to support us as a mentor, investor or partner that can help us design an inclusive programme.
PROGRAMME STREAMS
For entrepreneurs. Turn your idea into a business, build your minimum viable product and connect with a network.
– Individuals or small team
– Have an idea for a cyber business or recently launched your business
– Ideally over five years’ experience in cybersecurity or a relevant sector
For startups and SMEs. Nail your product-market fit, get commercialisation support and lay the foundations for growth.
You could meet one of the following criteria:
– Pre-Seed or Seed
– Fewer than 10 members in your team
– Earned £0.5m in revenue or less
For scaleups and high-growth startups. Blast away any barriers to growth nationally and around the world with dedicated support.
You could meet one of the following criteria:
– Series A and above
– More than 10 members in your team
– Earned more than £0.5m in revenue
CYBER RUNWAY LAUNCH: APPLY BY 26 September
Our Launch stream is a free, 14-week startup ideation programme designed to give you the platform you need to evaluate your idea, build a minimum viable product and turn it into a business.
It’s not a full-time programme, so you can fit it around your personal or professional life. You should expect to commit around 4-5 hours a week for live online classes. These will usually be in the late afternoons and evenings. You will also spend around 2–3 hours on assignments.
Starting in late October 2021 and ending in February 2022, the programme will be 100% virtual.
Member Benefits
Business masterclasses
Learn from the best on everything from developing a product roadmap to how to raise your next round. All our masterclasses are accessible virtually.
Mentoring and 1:1 advice
Get advice from successful founders, as well as experts in specific areas such as legal, finance and marketing. We’ll also have a chief technical officer and chief commercial officer on hand to support members.
Engineering support
CSIT engineers will help members test new products or features and provide you with advice on technical decisions. You’ll also get access to CSIT’s Cyber Range, which simulates real-world deployment models in a safe area.
Commercialisation and personalised growth roadmap
Each member will be given a personalised growth plan to help you progress through the accelerator, as well as product development and commercial support.
Investor pitches and industry introductions
Get in front of a global network of investors. Our Grow and Scale members will also benefit from industry introductions.
Presentation practice, meetups and peer support
Tap into a community of peers and take part in our regional and virtual events.
Resource library and startup advice on demand
Access a treasure trove of expert-written resources and advice for cyber startups.
International network and global expansion
Link up with regional and global cyber hubs in Cheltenham, Manchester, New York, Tel Aviv, Sydney and more.
APPLY NOW
Apply for either Launch, Grow or Scale (please apply for one stream only). Not sure which is for you? Get in touch on cyberrunway@plexal.com if you’ve got any questions.
Applications for Launch close at midnight on 26 September. Applications for Grow and Scale close at 5pm on 4 October.
MASTERCLASS
Here are some examples of the masterclasses you'll enjoy as a member...
Value proposition
Building and testing a product
Customer validation
Resilience and mental health
Budgets and pricing
Commercialisation and product-market fit
Sales and marketing
Raising funding
Iterating your product for a new market
Diversity and inclusion
Partnerships and alliances
Route to IPO
Culture and recruiting for growth
International expansion
Successful pilots and working with industry
Designed with inclusion at the heart
We think cyber innovation thrives when teams are diverse, and that everyone who wants to join the sector and grow their business should have access to the right support.
The goal is for 30% of cyber companies involved to be female-led businesses and at least 15% of founders to come from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.
We’re designing Cyber Runway with inclusion at the heart by partnering with a range of organisations to design and deliver the programme and connecting members with mentors from a range of backgrounds.
UK-wide companies
Cyber innovation is happening in every part of the country.
Cyber Runway will be delivered in person and virtually so startups across the UK can benefit.
And we want 50% of all companies to be based outside of London.
Mentor. Invest. Get involved.
Whether you’d like to speak to us before submitting an expression of interest or help us design and deliver a more inclusive programme, get in touch with our innovation team on cyberrunway@plexal.com
We also want to hear from anyone who wants to be a mentor or join our investor community.
NEWS AND VIEWS FROM OUR CYBER COMMUNITY
Welcoming LORCA Ignite
Plexal launched LORCA in 2018 with funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport to accelerate the growth of British cyber startups. Over the last three years, LORCA
First five innovators join NCSC For Startups
We’re excited to reveal the first five cybersecurity innovators that are joining NCSC For Startups, the initiative Plexal is delivering for the National Cyber Security Centre. From cyber fraud to
Introducing DISH: our new innovation centre in Greater Manchester
Manchester City Council has appointed a consortium of partners led by Barclays Eagle Labs to create a cybersecurity innovation centre in Greater Manchester. Plexal will design the centre’s accelerator and
PROGRAMME PARTNERS
CYBER INNOVATION AT PLEXAL
Plexal's building the UK's most connected cyber community, and we're delivering programmes like LORCA and NCSC For Startups for the UK government.
Find Us
Plexal’s based at Here East: a tech campus in east London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. We’re a 10-minute walk from Hackney Wick train station, or you can catch the free shuttle bus from Stratford train, underground and bus stations.
Plexal
14 East Bay Lane, The Press Centre, Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, E20 3BS
We’re open Monday-Friday from 6am-12am, Saturday - Sunday 10am-6pm
