Cyber Runway will directly address the challenges facing the sector, including diversity, regional representation and support for early-stage companies.

The goal is for 30% of cyber companies involved to be female-led businesses and at least 15% of founders coming from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. Cyber Runway is a national initiative and 50% of all companies will be based outside of London.

Plexal has launched Cyber Runway to accelerate the growth of at least 160 cyber entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs and scaleups across the UK.

Backed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Cyber Runway will be delivered by Plexal in partnership with CyLon, Deloitte and The Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT).

Minister for Digital Infrastructure Matt Warman said: “The UK’s cyber sector is booming and we’re working tirelessly to ensure the benefits are felt by businesses and individuals right across the country. Our new Cyber Runway programme will help tackle barriers to growth, increase investment and give firms vital support to take their businesses to the next level.”

It will replace and consolidate three DCMS-funded programmes: HutZero, Cyber 101 and Tech Nation’s Cyber Accelerator.

At least 160 companies will benefit from the accelerator over six months across three streams based on the growth stage of the business:

Launch: Entrepreneurs will get support with launching their business, building a minimum viable product and creating a network.

Grow: Startups and SMEs will get business support to help them address their growing pains, access funding and achieve commercial success.

Scale: Scaleups will access support (including 1:1 mentoring) to help them grow rapidly in the UK and around the world.

Member benefits

Our innovators will get:

• 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
• investor roadshows and the opportunity to pitch to investors

Support will be tailored to the growth stage of members to create a joined-up support system for cyber innovators in the UK.

How can you get involved?

Companies are now able to submit interest at plexal.com/cyber-runway.

We’re also keen to hear from investors, potential mentors and organisations that can help us design and deliver an inclusive programme. If you’ve got any questions, contact us on cyberrunway@plexal.com