CyLon – A Day at a World Leading Cyber Security Accelerator
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Before the Christmas break I spent a day with fresh and inspiring Cyber Security start-ups in Hammersmith at Cyber London (CyLon). On the Thursday I visited it was demo day, and the culmination of three months intensive work by the eight companies of ‘Cohort Four’. This was to be my first experience of the Cyber Security accelerator that is the brainchild of Grace Cassy, Jonathan Luff and Alex van Somersen.
Meeting with Grace and Jonathan at the start of the day, it was evident from the outset the passion and enthusiasm they have for operating this non-profit organisation. You can see this enthusiasm reflected across the CyLon team, and I was warmly welcomed and looked after throughout the day by Poppy, Katie, Shane, Philip, and David – many thanks for making me feel at home.
Winton Capital provide a fantastic London office for the entrepreneurs to be based at for the three month accelerator programme, and a fitting venue for investors to visit on demo day to meet and talk funding.
Demo day is the graduation day for the cohort, and the day they pitch their security concept to potential investors that will hopefully help take their innovations to market. I had the privilege to meet most of the companies through the day in ‘mini pitches’, and was impressed not just with the technical concepts and enthusiasm, but with the maturity of the founders on what was such an important day.
Cohort four comprised eight companies with innovative security concepts covering many different concerns faced by today’s businesses. Below is a brief synopsis, with links to the company’s respective sites where further information can be found:
AppsPicket provide secure and convenient integrated two-factor authentication
Codified Security have created a robust mobile app security testing platform
Conatix has built a semi-automated business intelligence system
drie Secure Systems Limited offers rapid and secure management of cloud platforms
MyDocSafe provide digital document exchange and signature for faster transactions
Nettoken offer a secure aggregated solution for identity management
ThreatInformer provide insights to support the writing and placing of cyber risks
VChain Technology help airlines manage security and risk with data insights
The day passed all too quickly as a whirlwind of short sharp meetings amid a frenetic hub of activity working towards presentation time, and the end of their journey at CyLon. As the day drew to a close, guests filled the auditorium in anticipation of the pitches. Jonathan made the introductions before handing over to Dr Adrian Nish of BAE systems, who provided insights into Cyber Security ahead of the cohort’s moment to shine.
We then began in earnest, as each of the companies took to the stage and confidently pitched their concepts, or in some cases operational services hosting existing clients and pilots. I found each company to be knowledgeable and engaging, whilst demonstrating the spark and passion that has allowed for the genesis of the ideas to take shape and evolve. Whilst nerves are inevitable in such a situation, I was impressed at the level of professionalism in which all presenters took to the stage and spoke to the audience of potential investors.
Cohort Four – you did yourselves proud.
Whilst at CyLon I also met a returning class of HutZero – the cyber security entrepreneur accelerator programme, and spent a brief time with some of the inspiring security innovators of perhaps future cohorts. Thank you ladies and gentlemen for a lively chat, some great questions, and for allowing me to sit in on your session.
My experience at CyLon has been incredible, and it was fantastic to spend time with young companies developing new cyber solutions for a changing market. Now more than ever we need to encourage these entrepreneurial minds to let loose and think beyond the obvious in order to tackle increasingly more complex security issues, and defy new attack vectors not previously encountered within our digital world. It is these innovative thinkers we need to nurture and encourage in order to keep our world safe.
For those keen to see the UK Cyber Security scene flourish with a continuing wave of innovators and ideas, I would strongly recommend taking a look at Cyber London (CyLon), and the companies at the start of their journey.