LORCA launched in 2018 with funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport to accelerate the growth of British cyber startups and create a world-class cyber ecosystem in the UK. Over the last three years, LORCA has supported 72 cyber startups and scaleups, exceeding its investment target by 450%. We have helped our members raise more than £200m and generate more than £37m in revenue. And today, we’re welcoming six graduates to our new LORCA Ignite accelerator. The intensive, six-month programme will help them scale to new heights and achieve commercial growth.
Delivered by Plexal‘s cyber innovation team, LORCA Ignite will include commercial and technology validation clinics and a showcase event. The cohort will also get access to investors, mentoring services and national and global networks. LORCA will work with its network of enterprises and security leaders to connect members with their cybersecurity challenges.
The six companies entering LORCA Ignite represent some of the most high-potential cyber startups operating in the UK:
- Ampliphae, which enables organisations to securely use Software as a Service (SaaS) and maximise the benefits of the cloud.
- CyberOwl, which helps asset operators in the maritime and critical national infrastructure sectors gain visibility of systems on their remote assets, actively manage the cyber risks and gain assurance of cyber compliance.
- CyberSmart, which aims to make cybersecurity simple and accessible to organisations big and small – helping them to attain Cyber Essentials certification and continually monitor for vulnerabilities.
- Risk Ledger, which enhances trust and security in global supply chains. The company has also just been chosen to secure the NHS Test and Trace app from supply chain vulnerabilities.
- Salt Communications, which enables secure enterprise mobile communications.
- Crypto Quantique, which wants to be the go-to security technology for connected devices.
Collectively, these cyber companies have raised over £27m in investment and grants in the last three years.
Alongside Plexal, LORCA Ignite will be delivered by Deloitte and the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) at Queen’s University Belfast. Our partners will also provide professional services expertise to the cohort, including AHL Connect, Outfly, Informed Funding and InfoSec People.
Saj Huq, director of LORCA and director of innovation at Plexal, said:
“LORCA Ignite is the evolution of an accelerator programme that has demonstrated the extraordinary success of the British startup ecosystem over the last three years. By combining government support with innovation expertise and access to investors and global tech leaders, LORCA has accelerated the growth of a new generation of world-class British cyber startups.
LORCA Ignite will continue that growth trajectory for some of the most high-potential businesses that have participated in our programme. The UK has a globally competitive cyber ecosystem and we need to provide support to the cyber scaleups at the forefront of what is quickly becoming a jewel in the UK’s tech crown.”
