NCSC for Startups overview
Bringing together innovative startups with NCSC technical expertise to solve some of the UK’s most important cyber challenges.
What is the NCSC For Startups?
NCSC For Startups was a flagship initiative delivered by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in partnership with Plexal, bringing together innovative startups and technical expertise to address some of the UK’s most important cyber security challenges.
Launched in 2017, the programme supported startups across different stages of growth, helping them develop, refine and scale solutions, contributing to the UK’s cyber resilience.
Although the programme is no longer running, this page remains as an archive to highlight its impact and showcase the companies that took part.
About the programme
NCSC For Startups was designed to connect startups with NCSC expertise, industry partners and investors, providing insight, support and access to help shape products and accelerate growth.
By opening up collaboration between a traditionally closed national security environment and the startup community, the programme enabled new approaches to tackle evolving cyber threats
Programme impact
Over the course of the programme, more than 70 startups completed NCSC For Startups, collectively raising over £550 million in investment and creating more than 1,700 jobs.
The programme played a key role in strengthening collaboration between government, industry and the startup ecosystem, helping bring innovative cyber solutions to market.
Our Alumni community
The NCSC For Startups alumni community represents a network of high-potential companies working across cybersecurity and adjacent technologies.
Participation in the NCSC For Startups programme was the result of a successful selection into a nationally recognised initiative, delivered by the NCSC alongside Plexal, in partnership with, Deloitte, CyNam, Hub8 and QA. If you are looking to confirm whether a company completed the programme, you will find them listed in the alumni lookbook or on the alumni community page.
Contact
The NCSC For Startups inbox is no longer monitored, for enquiries please contact Plexal.
NCSC for Startups: Everything you need to know
All about the programme, the alumni and the key highlights to date.
An ecosystem-based approach to cyber security
Andrew Roughan, CEO of the NCSC’s innovation partner Plexal, explains why a whole-of-society approach is vital for cyber security innovation.
How CyberFish's founder got hooked on Cheltenham
Berta Pappenheim, CEO and co-founder of CyberFish, explains how the NCSC For Startups programme has transformed her professional and personal life.
Leveraging NCSC’s national insight to strengthen the fight against mobile threats
Traced Mobile Security co-founder Benedict Jones describes how 'NCSC for Startups' helped evolve his business.
Tackling the 'human factor' to transform cyber security behaviours
ThinkCyber's CEO Tim Ward reflects on the challenges that startups face when developing innovative products.
NCSC for Startups: the case for collaboration
Saj Huq of Plexal explains why collaboration with the NCSC brings opportunities to the cyber security sector.
NCSC For Startups diaries: PORGiESOFT
We caught up with George Brown, founder of PORGiESOFT, about his first few weeks in NCSC For Startups...