NCSC Cyber Accelerator 

Developing the UK’s Cyber Security Ecosystem through accelerating innovative start-ups
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What is the NCSC Cyber Accelerator?

The NCSC Cyber Accelerator is a collaboration between the UK Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC, part of GCHQ) , and Wayra UK, part of Telefónica Open Future.

What sort of companies is the NCSC Cyber Accelerator looking for?

As part of its mission to make the UK the safest place to live and work online, the NCSC is looking for start-up companies who:

  • offer next-generation cyber security solutions that are better and cheaper than existing products
  • are using innovative techniques to solve a known problem
  • that can make a difference now rather than research proposals.
  • have an active UK presence including a UK registered business.

The solutions could be for any customers, from individuals at home to the world’s biggest companies, but must address one of the NCSC challenge themes outlined below.



What does the NCSC Cyber Accelerator programme involve?

The NCSC Cyber Accelerator is run in partnership with Wayra, combining the NCSC’s technical expertise and Wayra’s commercial connectedness to London’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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The programme runs for 9 months and meets three days a week.  In order to make best use of working with the NCSC and GCHQ, the programme is based in Cheltenham and a founder of each company is expected to attend each day.  To have a national reach but a Cheltenham-focus, the programme offers a £25,000 stipend to cover travel costs.

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The programme selects up to 10 companies, which range in their maturity from early stage angel investment to securing initial seed investment.

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Through a combination of technical and commercial mentorship and introductions, the programme works with start-ups to:

  • articulate their fundamental proposition and strengthen their business foundations.
  • develop and communicate their core product or service .
  • facilitate introductions to companies and investors.



What we offer

£25,000 grant (to cover the costs of travelling to Cheltenham)

Wayra's investor network

Wayra's acceleration services

Access to a dedicated accelerator facility in Cheltenham

Access to NCSC cyber experts

Data

IMPORT TRANSFORMATION AND VERIFICATION
BEYOND ANTI-VIRUS
DATA SHARING
AUDIT AND MONITORING
ENTERPRISE DATA DISCOVERY
DATA PROCESSING
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People


AUTHENTICATION
OUT-OF-THE-BOX SOLUTIONS FOR THE VULNERABLE
NOT ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL
GETTING THE BOARD TO ‘GET IT’
MAKING IT EASIER TO BE SECURE
IDENTIFYING ‘THE GOOD’
GDPR READINESS
IMPROVED TAKE UP OF CYBER ESSENTIALS AND INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

Start-ups

Technology

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Challenge Questions

Theme 1: Making it easier to be secure:
Theme 2: Understand and defend
Theme 3: Detect and respond:

What is intelligent mobility?

Areas of Interest

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FAQs

Q. WHAT IS NCSC's ROLE IN THE PROGRAMME?
Q, WHERE WILL THE PROGRAMME BE BASED?
Q, WHY IS WAYRA UK SUITED TO HELP NCSC?
Q, WHO ARE NCSC AND WHAT IS THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GCHQ?
Q, HOW WAS WAYRA SELECTED?
Q, WHO IS WAYRA?
Q, AFTER THE PROGRAMME, WILL THE COMPANIES BE INVITED TO WORK WITH NCSC?
Q, WHAT DOES THE WAYRA PROGRAMME OFFER?
Q, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE PROGRAMME ENDS?
Q, WHAT FACILITIES ARE MADE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE ACCELERATOR FACILITY?
Q, ARE THE COMPANIES EFFECTIVELY WORKING FOR NCSC/GCHQ?
Q, ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON THE TYPE OF COMPANIES WHO CAN APPLY?
Q, ARE THE COMPANIES REQUIRED TO LICENCE OR TRANSFER ANY OF THEIR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TO NCSC OR WAYRA?
Q, WILL NCSC / WAYRA TAKE ANY EQUITY IN THE COMPANIES?
Q, WHAT FUNDING DO COMPANIES RECEIVE THROUGH THE PROGRAMME?
Q, HOW LONG IS THE PROGRAMME?
Q, HOW ARE THE COMPANIES CHOSEN?
Q, WHY IS NCSC RUNNING AN ACCELERATOR?