What CyberASAP does

CyberASAP (Cyber Security Academic Startup Accelerator Programme) is a UK government-backed pre-seed accelerator programme that supports academic researchers from UK universities in commercialising cybersecurity research into investable startup companies. Founded in 2017 and domiciled in London, the programme is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and delivered by Innovate UK, which sits within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Its core function is operational rather than technological: it acts as a structured commercialisation pathway that bridges academic IP and private capital, recruiting participants through a network spanning more than 80 UK universities and providing accelerator infrastructure, expertise, and investor introductions.

The programme's business model is a public-sector grant-funded model, not a commercial revenue model. CyberASAP does not sell a product or service to participants; it is wholly funded by DSIT, with the most recent commitment being £10 million in grant funding over four years announced in 2026. Participant pricing does not apply. The underlying 'technology' is the accelerator programme itself — a curation, training, and matchmaking process — rather than a software platform, and the company has no proprietary software products, APIs, integrations, or patents disclosed. Distribution is direct via Innovate UK's national delivery infrastructure and UK university networks.

Performance over nine years indicates a repeatable funnel: 42 companies formed, three acquisitions, £47.4 million in cumulative alumni follow-on investment, and a near 4:1 return on public funding. Sixty-eight percent of alumni follow-on capital came from private sources including venture capital and angel investors, suggesting the programme has built a credible bridge between UK academic cybersecurity IP and the UK private investment ecosystem. As a non-commercial government initiative, CyberASAP's financial valuation, M&A optionality, and growth are governed by public policy and funding cycles rather than market dynamics.

Name

CyberASAP

Legal name

CyberASAP (Cyber Security Academic Startup Accelerator Programme)

Website

https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CyberASAP is a UK government-funded, pre-seed accelerator programme (since 2017) that helps academics from over 80 UK universities commercialise cybersecurity research into investable startup companies. It is funded by DSIT and delivered by Innovate UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Accelerator Program

akta.pro primary industry

Cyber Defense & Information Security (National Security) (BPAIAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cybersecurity Training & Awareness Programs (BPAEANAF)

Keywords

• Cybersecurity accelerator
• Academic startup program
• Research commercialization
• Pre-seed accelerator
• Cyber spinout support

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

CyberASAP is a pre-seed accelerator programme that helps UK academic researchers commercialize cybersecurity research into viable startup companies. The programme provides structured support including market validation, value proposition development, mentorship, and investor readiness training, culminating in the formation of spin-out companies from UK universities. It is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and delivered by Innovate UK as part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Product overview

CyberASAP (Cyber Security Academic Startup Accelerator Programme) is a UK government-backed acceleration programme, not a commercial software product. It is a programme that helps academics from UK universities commercialize their cyber security research by forming spin-out companies. The programme is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and delivered by Innovate UK. Alumni have collectively raised £47.4 million in follow-on investment over nine years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CyberASAP Pre-Seed Accelerator Programme A pre-seed accelerator programme funded by DSIT and delivered by Innovate UK that supports UK academic researchers in cybersecurity to commercialize their research and form investment-ready spin-out companies. The programme provides market validation, value proposition development, mentorship, and investor introductions. Participation is free and is offered to academics across more than 80 UK universities.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)coreOthersPrimary funder of the CyberASAP programme; committed £10 million additional funding over four years to continue the programme; programme is part of DSIT's strategy for supporting cybersecurity innovation from UK academic research
• Innovate UKcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDelivers the CyberASAP programme on behalf of DSIT; provides accelerator infrastructure, expertise, and connections to the UK innovation ecosystem; part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
• UK Universities (80+)coreOthersAcademic institutions from which CyberASAP recruits participant researchers; over 80 UK universities have been represented in the programme

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• HMGCC Co-Creation: HMGCC Co-Creation is a UK government engineering organisation running co-creation challenges for national security technology, including cyber. Comparable to CyberASAP as a UK government programme supporting commercialisation of security/cyber technology from external innovators.
• MACH37: MACH37 is a US-based cybersecurity accelerator focused on commercialising early-stage cyber innovation, including from research-origin founders. It is comparable to CyberASAP in its cybersecurity specialism and structured accelerator model, though US-based and not government-funded.
• DataTribe: DataTribe is a US-based cybersecurity venture studio and accelerator that builds companies from government and research-origin IP. Comparable to CyberASAP in translating government/research cyber IP into commercial ventures, though based in the US and structured as a venture builder.
• CyLon: CyLon is one of the earliest and most established cybersecurity accelerators globally, running cohort-based programmes for early-stage cyber startups. It is directly comparable to CyberASAP as a cybersecurity-focused accelerator, though CyLon serves commercial founders rather than UK academic researchers.
• LORCA (London Office for Rapid Cybersecurity Advancement): LORCA was a UK government-backed cybersecurity accelerator programme designed to grow the UK cyber ecosystem. It is directly comparable to CyberASAP as a UK government-supported cyber accelerator, though LORCA focused on scaling later-stage startups rather than academic spinouts.

Broad incumbents

• Team8: Team8 is an Israeli cybersecurity venture builder that builds and invests in cybersecurity companies originating from research and intelligence-community talent. Comparable to CyberASAP in cyber research commercialisation, though structured as a venture builder with private capital.
• SOSA Innovation Centre: SOSA is an Israeli global innovation platform running cybersecurity-focused accelerator programmes with corporate and government partners. Comparable to CyberASAP in cohort-based cyber startup support, though structured as a corporate-backed innovation platform.
• Techstars (cyber/security programmes): Techstars has run multiple cybersecurity-themed accelerator programmes and is a broad incumbent in the global accelerator market. Comparable to CyberASAP in cohort-based cybersecurity startup support, though it operates commercially with private investment rather than government grants.

Emerging players

• Plexal: Plexal is a UK innovation hub that has run cybersecurity innovation programmes in partnership with government. It overlaps with CyberASAP in the UK cyber innovation ecosystem and has hosted LORCA, but is a broader innovation centre rather than a dedicated academic-focused cyber accelerator.
• SETsquared Partnership: SETsquared is a UK university-led accelerator partnership supporting academic spinouts across multiple deep-tech sectors including cyber. Comparable to CyberASAP in university-spinout support, though broader across sectors and less cybersecurity-specialised.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cyberasap

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CyberASAP