Tech Nation, the UK’s leading network for ambitious tech entrepreneurs, has announced the 20 fast-growth cyber scaleups accepted onto their first national cyber security growth programme, including ICE member Awen Collective.
Funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and supported by global cyber security market-leaders Tessian, Digital Shadows, Darktrace and CensorNet, the six-month programme is aimed at helping to accelerate the growth of the UK’s most exciting cyber security businesses.
Awen Collective will benefit from a series of workshops held across the UK, led by industry leaders such as Digital Shadows co-founder James Chappell, Darktrace co-founders Emily Orton and Dave Palmer and Deep3 co-founder and CEO Richard Yorke. The programme will also include meetups and networking support, to help the scaleups navigate common barriers to growth, with guidance on everything from how to recruit the right talent to meeting goals for international expansion.
It will also provide them with a powerful network of peers, investors and potential clients. Following the call for applications in February, the successful cohort was chosen by a panel of expert judges from the public and private sector. The judges assessed applicants against their growth record to date, current scaling plans and expertise, and long-term business potential (both nationally and internationally).
Of the 20 businesses joining the programme, 45% are based outside of London, with cohort headquarters located in nine different cities across the UK (Reading, Belfast, Cheltenham, London, Glasgow, Bristol, Cardiff, Caerphilly and Brighton & Hove).
Daniel Lewis, CEO and Co-founder-Director, of Awen Collective, said:
“We are delighted to have been chosen for the first cohort of the Tech Nation Cyber programme. We are excited to get started and continue to grow with the support from this wonderful programme and we look forward to establishing new business alongside our fellow cohort members.”
Kevin Foster, UK Government Minister for Wales, added:
“Cyber security represents anincreasingly important part of our daily lives, and Wales already plays a leading role in keeping our data and systems safe while training up the next generation of experts. This programme will initially support two Welsh companies in Caerphilly and Cardiff in developing their potential and I look forward to seeing other companies from across Wales getting involved in the future.”
Well done, Awen Collective!