The London Office for Rapid Cybersecurity Advancement (LORCA) has announced the 17 scaleups selected to join its fifth cohort of cyber innovators.
Following an open call in March 2020 the selected members have created solutions that relate to identity, IoT, cloud security, autonomous cyber defence and privacy.
LORCA said it had encouraged applications from under-represented founders, with 18% of its fifth cohort including scale-ups with female founders or CEOs and 18% with leaders from BAME backgrounds.
LORCA’s next 12-month accelerator will support members from across the UK’s cyber ecosystem, including ZeroGuard from Stratford-upon-Avon, RedHunt Labs from Royston in Hertfordshire, InsurTechnix from Cambridge, Cyberhive from Newbury and Academy of Cyber Security from Manchester.
LORCA is also supporting four market entrants that are headquartered overseas in Israel (ITsMineand ContextSpace Solutions), The Netherlands (BreachLock) and Argentina (VU Security) and want to enter the UK as part of their international expansion.
LORCA is delivered by Plexal, the innovation centre and coworking space established by Delancey based in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Members of LORCA’s accelerator will also join Plexal’s growing cyber community and connect with Plexal’s partner Hub8, a workspace dedicated to cyber in Cheltenham.
The year-long programme will support the 17 early-stage companies to grow, secure investment, access new markets and participate in overseas trade missions, with the ultimate aim of growing the British cybersecurity industry.
LORCA takes zero equity or IP in the scale-ups.
Saj Huq, Director, LORCA, said: “The pandemic has accelerated many emerging digital trends, as well as the inevitable risks that accompany them. Cybersecurity challenges that were previously on the horizon have been brought forward as society and our economy becomes more connected, and security more critical than ever.
“The arrival of our fifth cohort highlights that there is world-leading talent and cutting-edge technology available to address these challenges and enable secure, societal-wide digital transformation. LORCA intends to support these companies by helping them scale in the UK and international markets and achieve a closer product-market fit.
Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman added: “We are committed to helping our innovative cyber security start-ups thrive and maintain our position as Europe’s leading tech hub.
“This initiative will see some of the brightest minds from across the country benefit from expert advice to turn their creative ideas into practical business tools and develop the cyber security technology of tomorrow.”