In 2026, the Cyber Security Academic Startup Accelerator Programme, widely known as CyberASAP, proudly marks its tenth anniversary. Founded with support from the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) and facilitated by Innovate UK, CyberASAP has proven to be instrumental over the past decade in bridging the often-discussed gap between academic research and practical industry applications. This programme has been crucial in accelerating the commercialization of leading-edge cyber technologies developed within UK universities. To date, participants of this initiative have successfully raised more than £75 million in follow-on investments. This funding has led to the establishment of 45 cyber companies, including 30 spin-out companies, and has also facilitated four notable acquisitions alongside multiple industry licenses.
The proven efficacy of CyberASAP is further substantiated by the recent commitment from the DCMS to invest an additional £10 million over the next four years. This heightened financial support is a clear endorsement of the programme’s significant contributions to the UK’s cyber security landscape.
To celebrate this monumental anniversary, a special event is set to take place on October 1, 2026, at the QEII Centre located in Westminster, London. The occasion will not only highlight CyberASAP’s achievements from the previous decade but will also serve as a platform for recognizing the successes of its alumni and discussing the future trajectory of cyber security innovation in the UK. Esteemed guests, including representatives from government, industry, academia, investors, and innovators, will be in attendance, with a keynote address slated to be delivered by Baroness Gustafsson of Chesterton CBE. Baroness Gustafsson brings a wealth of experience, having been part of the founding team for Darktrace in 2013 and having recently served as the Minister of State for Investment within the Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury.
CyberASAP holds a unique position within the UK’s cyber innovation ecosystem, as the country’s sole pre-seed accelerator exclusively dedicated to academics focused on cyber security. Over its decade-long existence, the programme has empowered researchers to transform groundbreaking cyber security concepts into commercial realities. This transformation is of paramount importance, particularly in an era where digital sovereignty is increasingly vital. By nurturing a new generation of cyber businesses, CyberASAP plays a pivotal role in reinforcing the UK’s security measures.
Emma Fadlon, the Director of CyberASAP, articulated the significance of the ten-year milestone, stating, “A decade is a significant milestone for any programme, let alone for a pre-seed cyber security accelerator. CyberASAP has stood the test of time and delivered some exceptional results, as the statistics show. What’s truly unique about CyberASAP is its ability to give academics the chance to develop and commercialize tech that has the potential to create real change nationally and beyond.”
One notable success story from the CyberASAP initiative is Mindgard, an AI security company emerging as a spin-out from Lancaster University. Co-founded by Dr. Peter Garraghan, Mindgard participated in CyberASAP’s Year 6 cohort in 2022. Since its graduation from the programme, the company has attracted significant investment through several multi-million-pound and dollar funding rounds, attaining £3 million in 2023 and $8 million in 2024. Most recently, in August 2026, Mindgard announced it had successfully closed a $30 million Series A financing round, led by Album VC and involving participation from renowned investors such as Karma Ventures, .406 Ventures, Atlantic Bridge, IQ Capital, and Lakestar. The company attributes its funding success to the rapid deployment of its technology among Fortune 2000 companies and AI innovators across various sectors, including financial services, pharmaceuticals, gaming, digital services, semiconductors, and healthcare.
Moreover, the ties between CyberASAP alumni and the broader Innovate UK ecosystem continue well beyond the initial programme. Graduates benefit from ongoing opportunities such as mentorship and are often invited to showcase their innovations abroad. In a notable instance this year, six alumni attended the RSAC event in San Francisco to present some of the UK’s most exciting early-stage cyber innovations.
Currently, the 10th cohort of CyberASAP kicked off in April 2026, with 14 teams now entering the final phase of the programme. These teams are diligently working on developing Proofs of Concept aimed at addressing crucial cyber security challenges across diverse sectors, ranging from Critical National Infrastructure to FinTech, AI Security, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The culmination of their efforts will be showcased in February 2027 during the annual Demo Day, where they will present their innovations to potential investors and industry stakeholders.
As CyberASAP celebrates this decade of impactful work, it continues to foster a more secure and resilient future for the UK’s digital landscape, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and excellence in the field of cyber security.