Empowering the Cyber and Emerging Technologies Ecosystem
In April 2024, CyNam proudly announced its receipt of funding from the prestigious Barclays Eagle Labs Ecosystem Partnership Programme. This significant funding boost enabled us to supercharge our mission of connecting the cyber and tech community across Gloucestershire, fostering collaboration, and driving innovation for regional prosperity and growth.
Since our inception in 2015, CyNam has been at the forefront of convening cybersecurity professionals, startups, businesses, academia, and central and local government to spark conversations, share knowledge, and unlock new opportunities. This funding has allowed us to enhance these efforts, particularly in integrating cybersecurity with the rapidly growing field of emerging technologies.
The Barclays Eagle Labs funding has amplified our ability to connect these two vital sectors, laying the foundation for future county-wide developments focused on securing and enhancing emerging technologies. These efforts are not only vital for local innovation but will play a significant role in ensuring the resilience of technology clusters as they evolve.
As part of the funded initiative, we launched four workstreams aimed at enhancing the region’s cybersecurity and emerging technology ecosystem, including: developing entrepreneurial skills, investor engagement, connecting clusters, and digital storytelling.
Building a Connected Ecosystem
Through our Clusters on Tour initiative, we facilitated connections with tech hubs across the UK, including Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Bristol, and Cardiff. These regional engagements attracted 1,057 attendees and sparked meaningful collaborations between businesses, academia, and government.
In Cambridge, we played a pivotal role in supporting the East of England Defence and Security Cluster during Cambridge Tech Week, strengthening the region’s focus on defense and cybersecurity. Meanwhile, in Milton Keynes, we uncovered the power of private-public sector collaboration, driving innovation and new opportunities for Gloucestershire and Milton Keynes’ tech clusters to collaborate.
These engagements were crucial steps toward creating a more connected ecosystems, fostering regional collaboration, and helping our cyber community thrive on a national scale. Additionally, through our involvement with UKC3 (UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration), CyNam has been part of an ongoing effort to unify cyber clusters across the UK, enhancing our collective impact on cybersecurity and emerging technologies.
Supporting Entrepreneurial Talent in Cybersecurity and Tech
A core part of our mission was to support the development of entrepreneurial skills within the cybersecurity and tech sectors. Through targeted mentorship and bootcamps, we supported 121 businesses, helping them refine their offerings and gain the tools necessary to succeed.
One of the standout initiatives was our Cyber AI Bootcamp, which returned to Gloucestershire and provided 22 aspiring founders with the knowledge and practical skills to grow for potential startup ideas. The programme, focused on real-world challenges and provided foundational business strategies for early-stage founders, helping them turn their vision into scalable, sustainable enterprises.
These efforts have been crucial in developing entrepreneurial talent in the region and ensuring that future innovators are equipped with the right tools and knowledge. The ongoing mentorship programme will be integral in supporting these founders, offering guidance that helps them navigate challenges and accelerate their growth.
Digital Storytelling: Securing the Future of Technology
Our digital storytelling project, Securing the Future of Technology, has been a pivotal effort to break down complex emerging technologies into accessible content for everyone, regardless of technical expertise. Through exploring six critical areas of innovation, we’ve connected with industry leaders and experts, giving a clear picture of how technology is evolving and what steps need to be taken to secure it for future generations.
The storytelling project has not only helped us communicate these advancements but also showcased how various sectors are contributing to shaping the future of technology. Looking forward, we’ve highlighted the rapid pace of change, the challenges that remain, and the emerging opportunities that lie in securing the technology of tomorrow. We successfully curated a collection of 6 articles, 6 case studies, 8 videos, and 6 interviews, highlighting local successes and promoting a stronger, more connected ecosystem.
Investor Engagement: Building an Angel Network
Another area of focus was addressing the investment deficit in the South West for cybersecurity startups. To tackle this, we have hosted a series of events aimed at educating both startups and investors on the fundamentals of angel investing in cybersecurity and emerging technologies. These sessions have explored the intricacies of a cyber angel investment deal, demystifying the early-stage funding landscape for cybersecurity businesses.
We’ve delivered 3 events covering key topics such as what an angel investor looks for in a startup, the challenges angels face when making investment decisions, and the critical factors they need to understand to make informed investments in the tech and cybersecurity sectors. These sessions have provided valuable insights into the investment process, helping startups and investors navigate the complexities of angel investment in a rapidly evolving industry.
To further amplify the impact of this initiative, Cyber Local has provided essential support, assisting us in reaching a wider audience and ensuring these events are even more impactful. With their help, we’ve been able to start connecting the region’s cybersecurity startups with key angel investors, providing them with the guidance and resources needed to secure funding and drive future growth in the sector.
Looking to the Future
As we wrap up this phase of the project, the work we’ve done so far is just the beginning. We’ve laid the groundwork for greater collaboration between cyber security and emerging technologies, unlocked more support for startups, built connectivity between investment and innovation, and empowered individuals within the cybersecurity community. With more to come from CyNam, the future of Gloucestershire’s cyber and tech ecosystem continues to look bright.
We are excited to build upon the momentum we’ve gained and continue unlocking new opportunities for cybersecurity, emerging tech, and the region as a whole.
Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you to all