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 (Telefónica's Open Innovation Hub).

‍

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-ups 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 to the NCSC right now
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 UK, combining the NCSC’s technical expertise and Wayra’s commercial expertise to the World’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The programmes will run for 10 weeks each in Cheltenham and meet in person 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 £9,000 stipend to cover travel costs.

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

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

Investigate potential partnership opportunities with NCSC
Develop and communicate their core product or service
Facilitate introductions to companies and investors
Create commercial growth opportunities

NCSC Cyber Accelerator Programme in 2020/2021

In order for start-ups to derive as much from the programme as possible, it has been established as a physical and in-person programme and we plan to maintain this key characteristic.

We intend to commence the first cohort, in person, in late July 2020, however we will confirm exact dates once there is more clarity on travel and lockdown restrictions due to COVID-19.

We are accepting applications on a rolling basis and will be filling up spaces on upcoming cohorts on a first come first served rule for those start-ups who are successful at a selection day.

Start-ups who have applied and progress to a selection day will need to attend (either virtually or in person) an NCSC selection day on one of the dates below. We will be scouting on a rolling basis for the three programme cohorts across the year. We have up to 10 spaces on each cohort.