Plexal

💬 "It’s really a question of: what’s your risk appetite?” 💬 "Chief AI Officer is a role we’ll see more of" 💬 “Our approach is to use academia and industry as force multipliers to help the government solve security problems" ℹ️ These are just some of the insights from the second edition of LASR Lates, our AI security panel and networking event series, which has been built in line with our work on the UK Government’s Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR). 📰 Read the recap in full here: https://lnkd.in/eyjaKxqK During this LASR Lates, we heard from: 🗣️ Ruby Motabhoy – Senior Lead, National Security, Plexal (Moderator) 🗣️ Matt Squire – CTO, Fuzzy Labs 🗣️ Sarah Schlobohm – Chief AI Officer, zally® 🗣️ Simon Cook – Professor in Practice, Data & Cyber Research, Lancaster University 🎤 As the AI security discussion evolves, it's important we keep driving dialogue countrywide, which is why this session took place in the Greater Manchester Digital Security Hub (DiSH) – home of Plexal’s team in the North West. ✍ by Zen Terrelonge Andrew Roughan | Saj Huq | Dave Rowley | Lucy Coutts | Darren Lewis | James Leeke | Holly Smith | Diane Gilbert | Stuart Nelson | Bernadette M. | William Gurney | Lisa Perkins | Derya Atlas | Alliah Rust | Emma Marshall | Ria Khan | HERE EAST | Hub8 | University of Oxford | The Alan Turing Institute | Queen's University Belfast | #LASR | #AI | #AISecurity | #Cyber | #CyberSecurity | #Government

It was a huge honour to attend the House of Lords and give evidence to the AI All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG AI) last night. I spoke about the intersection of AI and cyber security, and how governments and industries should collaborate to address evolving cyber challenges, safeguard national interests, and enhance national security and resilience. I specifically covered: 🇬🇧Why public-private collaboration has been a cornerstone of the UK’s national cyber strategies for more than a decade and how this has contributed to building UK’s position as a global cyber power. 📈How active ecosystem building by Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and increasing collaboration between startups, large enterprises and government agencies such as National Cyber Security Centre have set the platform and market expectations for open innovation and joint collaboration on challenges of national interest. 💨The increasing tailwinds provided for this movement from the likes of the AI Opportunties Plan and upcoming Defence Reform initiatives. 🌍 Why the UK is well placed to exhibit global leadership on AI security and how world-class, HMG-led programmes such as the Laboratory for AI Security Research (#LASR) - which Plexal are proud to play a leading role in - are already setting the global benchmark for public-private collaboration in this domain. Thanks to APPG AI and Professor Birgitte Andersen for the invite. Plexal | Plexal Cyber

For four years, Plexal and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology have supported SMEs and founders from across the UK to understand and break down barriers around their development, growth and leadership 🤝   In celebration of this engaged community, we’ve recently hosted our second Cyber Runway Live – a day comprising networking, pitch battles, panel discussions, workshops and the graduation of our latest programme participants from our Launch, Grow, Scale and Ignite streams! 🎉   🗣️ James Stanley, Head of Sectoral Engagement at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said: “Our cyber sectoral analysis has shown growth isn’t just in London and the south, with more than half of companies outside that area, so it’s fitting to host Cyber Runway Live in Manchester, my home city, with Greater Manchester an example of a great cyber cluster.    “Congratulations to you all for completing this Cyber Runway journey! It’s been incredibly rewarding to speak with founders, learn about your innovations, hear your passions and see your success.”    🗣️ Diane Gilbert, Senior Innovation Lead for Programmes at Plexal, added: “This Cyber Runway Live marks our fourth graduation event. And over the past four years of Cyber Runway, we’ve built an ecosystem of over 270 unique members spanning the length of the UK, with £152m of investment raised and £285m revenue generated.      “As a team, we’re passionate about the diversity of the cyber security sector and proud to champion the people behind the industry, all of whom have put in hard work and sacrifice with a clear mission and values. Be sure to remain a part of this enduring support system and connect with your fellow alumni network!” Andrew Roughan | Robert Kearney | Mary Welton | Rosie C. | Ria Khan | Alliah Rust | Ilham BAHADDOU | Mohammad Qasim | Rio Sherri | Yolanda Roach | Ask Silver | Blunt Security | Byne | COPPER INK | Cyber Overwatch | eCora | Exorde Labs | Fortifi Cyber Security | Huntbase | Invenode | #CyberRunway | #Cyber | #CyberSecurity | #Manchester | #BusinessGrowth | #Entrepreneurship

AI, Cybersecurity & National Interests – Key Discussions at Today’s APPG AI Evidence Session at the UK Parliament! Today's session brings together leading experts to explore the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and data privacy. We will discuss how AI is transforming cybersecurity, the risks it poses, and the strategies needed to protect national interests while balancing innovation and privacy rights. 🔸 Esteemed Speakers: Zoe Kleinman – Technology Editor, BBC News | Senior On-Air Journalist & Presenter   Dr. Oliver Patel, AIGP, CIPP/E – Enterprise AI Governance Lead, AstraZeneca | IAPP Advisory Board Member | OECD Expert on AI Risk & Accountability   Sunaina Aytan – Cybersecurity Consultant, Airbus Protect | UK Cyber Security Council & Cyber London Advisory Board Member   Ben Johnson – Co-Founder & CTO, UPTITUDE   Saj Huq – Chief Commercial Officer, Plexal | Member, National Cyber Advisory Board Chairs: Allison Gardner MP & Lord Tim Clement-Jones CBE   Secretariat: Big Innovation Centre 🔸Key Topics We’re Covering: 🔹AI in Cybersecurity & National Security 1. How can AI strengthen cybersecurity and safeguard critical infrastructure? 2. What are the biggest cybersecurity risks associated with AI, and how can we mitigate them? 3. What role should government-industry collaboration play in addressing evolving cyber threats? 🔹AI & Data Privacy: Balancing Innovation and Protection 1. How can we foster AI innovation while ensuring privacy rights are protected? 2. What regulatory frameworks are needed to govern personal data in AI applications? 3. What international efforts are required for a unified approach to AI and data privacy? 🔹 The Role of Synthetic Data in AI Development 1. How can synthetic data improve AI development, testing, and cybersecurity? 2. What are the challenges in using synthetic versus real-world data? This session aims to shape policy, drive strategic discussions, and foster international collaboration to build a secure, privacy-conscious, and AI-powered digital future. 🤝 Join the conversation!    #AI #Cybersecurity #DataPrivacy #NationalSecurity #Innovation #SyntheticData #AIGovernance #DigitalAge #CyberThreats #Policy #PrivacyProtection #GovernmentIndustryCollaboration #AIApplications #CriticalInfrastructure #TechForGood #PrivacyRights #RegulatoryFramework #AIInnovation #CyberSecurityCouncil #BigInnovationCentre #BBC #ArtificialIntelligence #APPGAI

A huge week for investment news! (This time from our latest Plexal Scaleup cohort) A massive congratulations to Kelly Weston (Sebine) and the team on their recent £2m fundraise.💰 Achieving funding is always a massive vote of confidence and testiment to your hard work 🙌

Just two weeks to go until we kick off our Coworking Week here at Plexal Stratford - don't miss your chance to get involved from Monday 24th to Friday 28th March and try working from Plexal for free for a whole week! PLUS take part in an exclusive office auction during Coworking Week where you could win one of two versatile office spaces. 🧑💻 Choose from private offices or shared coworking environments and join our diverse network of professionals, which includes people from early-stage startups, innovative scaleups, leading government organisations, universities and investors. 🤝 Come and experience a week of curated events designed for networking, team building and wellness, and join over 1,200 companies that are already part of our dynamic ecosystem. ⏰ What are you waiting for? Register today: https://lnkd.in/evntHNBa HERE EAST | Hub8 | Jennifer Underwood | Sophie Bacon | Bolu Bello (BB) 🧠 | Zoltan Kolozsvari | Monica Cheung | Claudia Rosen | Zen Terrelonge | Dan Moskovenko | #CoworkingWeek | #workspace | #collaboration | #innovation | #community | #networking

It’s a double celebration here at Plexal as we mark International Women's Day 2025 with the results of techUK’s National Security Committee elections... and we're ecstatic to reveal our very own Ruby Motabhoy, Plexal's Senior Lead for National Security, has been appointed Vice-Chair! 🎉 The National Security Committee comprises 23 techUK members, including five SME representatives and 18 larger companies. The Committee will champion industry's interests and drive a programme of activity between techUK and its stakeholders across the national security sector, addressing strategic concerns impacting the market. 🗣️ Commenting on her new post, Ruby says: “This is such incredible news as we celebrate International Women’s Day, thank you to everyone who supported me with the votes and encouragement to achieve committee membership and Vice-Chair status! "Through cross-sector collaboration with secure government partners, SMEs, academia and investors, my experience in the national security community spans technical research, proofs of concept and accelerator programmes alongside design and development of problem books, cyber principles and technology assurance strategies. “I'm excited to serve the National Security Committee with a forward-thinking, adaptable and public-minded approach, working with my colleagues to identify whole of society responses to today’s security issues." Congratulations Ruby! 🔥 📰 Read the full announcement from techUK here: https://lnkd.in/eP5aECRr #techUK | #UKtech | #AccelerateAction | #IWD2025 | #InternationalWomensDay | #nationalsecurity | #innovation | #collaboration | Andrew Roughan | Saj Huq | Monika Radclyffe | Jessica Moffatt-Owen | Bruno Sussat | Emma Marshall | Lydia Kerin | Stuart Nelson | Ria Khan | Alliah Rust | Charlotte West | Dr. Karim A. Bahou | Cameron Readman | Hamza H.

📍 We recently orchestrated an assembly at our Hub8 by Plexal MX Innovation Centre in Cheltenham, which opened last year in collaboration with Cheltenham Borough Council, building on the town’s position as a thriving UK cluster. 🗺️ And it’s that cluster component we explored at our event, Powering progress: How innovation clusters supercharge regional growth. Notably, we covered how alignment between initiatives in Cheltenham, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Milton Keynes can add significant momentum and benefit on a national scale. 🎤 Ruby Motabhoy, our Senior Lead for National Security, took to the stage to chair a panel exploring the role of local government and academic leaders to understand how they work to drive positive outcomes for the communities and clusters they serve and was joined by: 🗣️ Gareth Edmundson, Chief Executive at Cheltenham Borough Council 🗣️ Mike Johnson, Technology Strategy Advisor at Milton Keynes City Council 🗣️ Dion Williams, Director of Research, Enterprise & Innovation at Lancaster University 🗣️ Alex van Someren, Chief Scientific Adviser for National Security 📰 Get the insights from the group's conversation here https://lnkd.in/eEXnBPvS ✍ by Zen Terrelonge Golden Valley | HBD | Andrew Roughan | Saj Huq | Russell Gundry | Bruce Gregory | Ben Edginton-Thomas | Catherine Hadfield | Tom Marshall | Charlotte West | Francesca C. | Rosie C. | Daisy Culver | #Clusters | #Innovation | #Communities | #Government | #LocalGovernment | #BusinessGrowth

We're revamping the traditional demo day on Monday 10th March with a unique head-to-head spin Rocky would be proud of, transforming the Centre Stage at Plexal Stratford into a sporting arena worthy of a heavyweight bout as the Product Growth Pitch Battle takes place! 🥊 It's part of our Product Growth Programme with Barclays Eagle Labs and UK Government, which is designed to support organisations through their journey from MVP to ready-to-scale with product-market fit 🧩 Want to be part of the audience cheering our contenders on as the founder face-off takes place? Then book your tickets now to get the inside track on fresh innovations and be part of the action 🎟️ https://lnkd.in/e3iVGtyb Watch the video below to get a flavour of what to expect on the night! 🍿 Harry Baker | Emma Marshall | Charlotte West | Ria Khan | Mina Begum | Cameron Readman | Joe Howard | Monika Radclyffe | Saj Huq | Bodii | Taught by Humans | VidPlate | Legacy Compass | Doshi | BiostealthAI | Tom Howson | Natalia Pazzaglia | Dr Mark Cox | Orli | Rouya Mardani | HERE EAST | #ProductGrowth | #BusinessGrowth | #Entrepreneurship | #BusinessBuilding

It was awesome to have been in the room with the iconic Dannielle Lecointe yesterday as she facilitated an intimate workshop at Plexal 💡 Who's Dannielle? ⚡️The short answer: A BOSS who is a living demonstration that you can live the life and have the career you truly desire. 😮💨 The long answer: ↳ Visionary Coach ↳ Speaker ↳ Creative Director ↳ Dramaturg ↳ Award-Winning Choreographer ↳ Associate Artistic Director of ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company ↳ Podcast Host (Create & Elevate Podcast) This uniquely dynamic, serial entrepreneur, prides herself in showing women exactly how to find their voice and show up as their true authentic self. And that, she certainly did! She very quickly whipped me (personally) into shape by delving into re-programming the way we think, the power of desire and replacing motivation with inspiration. With enormous buckets of passion; I left challenged, triggered and truly humbled 🙃 Thanks so much for your words, vulnerability and time yesterday Dannielle, you are indeed a force to be reckoned with 💓