Overview

Join us to celebrate ten years of CyberASAP, the Cyber Security Academic Startup Accelerator Programme, funded by UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport and delivered by Innovate UK.

Bringing together government, industry, academia, investors and innovators, this special anniversary event will showcase the programme’s achievements over the last decade, celebrate the success of CyberASAP alumni, and explore the future of cyber security innovation in the UK.

CyberASAP is uniquely positioned within the cyber innovation ecosystem as the UK’s only pre-seed cyber security accelerator dedicated to academics. For ten years, the programme has helped researchers transform cutting-edge cyber security ideas into commercial ventures, enabling innovations with the potential to make the UK safer, more secure and more resilient.

To date alumni have leveraged more than £53m post programme. With more than 30 spin-out companies formed, we have seen 4 acquisitions, multiple licences and recorded diverse social and economic impacts.

Hear from programme stakeholders, alumni and leaders from across the cyber community as they reflect on the impact of CyberASAP and discuss the opportunities and challenges that will shape the next decade of cyber security research, innovation and commercialisation.

About the event

Marking ten years of CyberASAP, the event will showcase the programme’s impact on cyber innovation in the UK and provide a forum to explore the opportunities and challenges that will shape the sector’s future.

Our celebratory gathering will bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders, academics and policymakers from across the cyber security ecosystem.

Join thought-provoking panel discussions, hear from CyberASAP alumni who are transforming cutting-edge research into commercial success and discover innovative technologies at demonstration stands.

Build new connections across government, academia, industry and investment, and help shape the next decade of UK cyber security innovation.

Most importantly, connect with a unique community of people committed to strengthening the UK’s cyber security capability and ensuring CyberASAP continues to be a driving force for innovation in the years ahead.

Why attend?

This event offers a unique connect with leading voices from across the cyber security ecosystem and gain insights into the future of cyber innovation in the UK:

• celebrate 10 years of CyberASAP and hear about the programme’s achievements and impact
• hear first hand from CyberASAP alumni about their entrepreneurial journey, challenges and successes
• gain insights into the Government’s priorities for cyber security and digital security innovation
• explore the latest funding, investment and commercialisation opportunities for cyber ventures
• connect with academics, entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders from across the cyber ecosystem
• discover emerging cyber technologies through demonstrations, case studies and fireside discussions
• contribute to conversations about the future opportunities and challenges facing the UK’s cyber innovation landscape

Who should attend?

• CyberASAP stakeholders
• CyberASAP alumni
• Cyber security investors and experts
• Cyber security industry operators
• innovators and industry interested in the UK’s cyber security pipeline
• government
• potential industry collaborators/licensors

Keynote speaker

Baroness Gustafsson of Chesterton CBE will be giving our keynote address. Baroness Gustafsson was part of the team who founded Darktrace in 2013 and most recently was Minister of State (Minister for Investment) jointly in the Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury.

Outline agenda

• 11:00 – 11:30 – Registration, networking with refreshments
• 11:30 – 11:45 – Welcome, keynote and panel sessions
• 11:45 – 13:00 – Keynote address and panel discussion
  • Keynote address – Baroness Gustafsson of Chesterton CBE
  • Panel discussion – Cyber Industry Futures

    Chair
    Robin Kennedy, CyberASAP co-director, Innovate UK Business Connect
    Panellists
    Jessica Figueras, CEO and co-founder, CxB – Cyber Governance for Boards
    Tim Rawlins, Director and Senior Adviser NCC Group.
    Richard M, NCSC Head of Security Architects
    Daniel Lewis, Founder, Awen Collective (CyberASAP Year 1)

• 13:00 – 13:45 – Lunch, networking and alumni showcase
• 13:45 – 15:00 – Panel discussion – Cyber Women
  • Chair
    Emma Fadlon, CyberASAP co-director – Innovate UK Business Connect
    Panellists
    Dr Clare Johnson, Women in Cyber Unlimited
    Yvonne Eskenzi, Eskenzi PR
    Dr Ruhma Tahir, BT
    Giles Grant, UK Cyber Security Council
• 15:00 – 15:15 – Break, networking and alumni showcase
• 15:15 – 16:00 – Panel discussion – Investing in Cyber
  • Chair
    Emma Fadlon: CyberASAP co-director, Innovate UK Business Connect
    Panellists
    Paul Wilkes, Osney Capital
    Dave Palmer, Ten Eleven Ventures
    Dr Andrea Cullen MBE, CAPSLOCK
• 16:00 – 16:30 – Flash pitches from CyberASAP alumni
• 16:30 – 17:00 – Closing address – Andrew Elliott, Deputy Director, Tech Skills Unit, DCMS
• 17:00 – 19:00 – Reception with refreshments, networking and alumni showcase
• 19:00 – Event close

Alumni showcase

Visit and network with our CyberASAP Alumni exhibitors and find out more about their projects, their experiences and celebrate their successes.

• 11AI – Develop, secure, and validate robots in one integrated platform.
• Cairnlytics – Quantifying open-source software resilience through non-intrusive data-driven concentration risk analysis.
• Cyber Innovations – Cyber self defence. Recognise, rehearse, respond, recover.
• CybPass – CybPass builds hacking devices to secure autonomous and unmanned systems at the speed of AI.
• Fact360 – Using AI to uncover critical risks, anomalies and insights hidden in corporate communications. 
• LockEyeGaze – Protecting digital identities with intelligent gaze-based authentication using everyday cameras.
• OSIRT – Digital investigation & evidence management platform.
• OSIRT – Digital investigation & evidence management platform.
• Photarix – Develops compact semiconductor light emitter devices designed to support quantum-secure communication over real-world fibre networks.
• Qsafe Technologies – Quantum-safe encryption for modern data security.
• RogDron – AI-powered digital twins for detecting rogue behaviour and securing autonomous drone swarms.
• Vouchsec – AI-simulated production estates on demand: demo, test and validate detections without touching the real thing.
• Voxlith – Products for digital resilience against phishing, spear-phishing and ransomware threats.