Cyber Runway, the government-backed cyber security accelerator has opened applications for its second cohort of cyber startups.

The six-month programme, run by Plexal and funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), will offer support to up to 100 startups ans scaleups to help them grow their businesses in the UK and abroad.

The programme includes masterclasses and one to one mentoring on building and growing businesses, engineering support from the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) and access to CSIT’s data and testing centre.

Cyber Runway participants will also be given access to technical product development support and a network of events and connections within the cyber ecosystem.

Plexal said Cohort members will keep 100 per cent of their IP and equity and will be offered advice to help them build more sustainable, inclusive and investable businesses, with modules on achieving Net Zero targets and designing inclusive policies.

Plexal is inviting all UK registered cyber startups to apply for the programme by 29 July.

Cyber Runway has been designed to address some of the biggest challenges facing cyber security, such as diversity and inclusion and regional representation.

Plexal said it is particularly keen to receive applications from startups with diverse leadership teams and companies based throughout the UK.

The organisation’s goal is for 30 per cent of cyber companies involved in the programme to be female-led businesses, 40 per cent of companies to be based outside of London and the South East and at least 15 per cent of founders coming from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

For the first cohort of the accelerator programme, 45 per cent of member companies were female-led startups and 52 per cent were run by founders from black, ethnic or minority backgrounds.

The accelerator is split into three streams, Launch, Grow and Scale, to cater to startups at different growth stages.

Plexal said established startups should apply for the Grow and Scale streams only, which are for startups that are anywhere from pre-Seed to Series B and above that are gearing up for further growth.

The first Cyber Runway cohort supported 107 entrepreneurs with its first cohort, with members seeing a 20 per cent increase in revenue, an 8 per cent increase in investment and a 22 per cent increase in headcount over the course of the programme.

Saj Huq, chief commercial officer at Plexal, said: “The economic and geopolitical necessity for a thriving cyber security ecosystem has never been greater.

“As the UK’s largest cyber accelerator, Cyber Runway provides a uniquely scaled platform for growth at the heart of the UK’s innovation ecosystem, that is designed to support bold, ambitious and diverse founders to realise their potential. We encourage any startup that is serious about their growth to apply and collaborate with us.”

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