Infosecurity Europe has unveiled its inaugural Cyber Startup Program, set to take place from June 2nd to 4th, 2026, at Excel, marking a significant initiative to bolster emerging talents in cybersecurity and enhance the industry’s ecosystem.
This new program will be featured prominently at Infosecurity Europe 2026, aiming to bring together startup founders, investors, and other stakeholders through a specialized show-floor experience.
Innovative Platform for Emerging Technologies
The centerpiece of the Cyber Startup Program is the Cyber Startups Zone, an exclusive section on the exhibition floor. This zone offers a unique platform for startups to showcase cutting-edge technologies, present innovative ideas, and engage directly with potential clients, collaborators, and financiers.
The program is tailored to support businesses at various stages of growth, aiding them in becoming channel-ready, connecting with partners, spotting new trends, and forging valuable relationships with investors and leaders in innovation.
Insights from Industry Leaders
Brad Maule-ffinch, Event Director at Infosecurity Europe, emphasized the significance of nurturing early-stage innovation, stating, “Supporting early-stage innovation is essential to the future of cybersecurity, and being able to play a meaningful role in spotlighting upcoming innovative and disruptive technologies is a role we are keen to foster and grow. With the launch of the Cyber Startup Program, Infosecurity Europe is creating new opportunities for startups to gain visibility, connect with investors and buyers and use it as a platform to grow too.”
Program Highlights and Opportunities
The event adds founder-focused sessions on scaling and growthThe initiative will be conducted in association with UK Cyber Flywheel, featuring a day dedicated to content and networking for founders and investors, and a live competition scheduled for Tuesday, June 2.
The Cyber Startup Award 2026 will involve finalists pitching their concepts live in front of top industry executives, investors, and buyers, with the ultimate winner announced at the event. The prize includes a free exhibition stand at the 2027 event, expert PR support, and brand consultancy services.
Advancing Cybersecurity Efforts
Munawar Valiji, CISO and Cyber Advisor, highlighted the program’s importance, mentioning, “Cybersecurity is crucial for the UK to protect its critical infrastructure, economy and citizens from increasingly sophisticated state-sponsored and criminal cyberattacks. Through the Cyber Flywheel, and in partnership with CISOs, founders, investors and government, we are focused on building a better connected, stronger and more resilient cyber ecosystem across the UK and beyond. The Cyber Startup Program at Infosecurity Europe plays an important role in bringing these communities together and accelerating innovation where it matters most.”
Comprehensive Conference Agenda
The event will feature additional sessions tailored for startup founders, providing practical advice on scaling, market entry strategies, and sustainable growth. The Founder Conference Track is set to offer insights into establishing a robust market presence and preparing for long-term development.
Moreover, the Cyber Innovation Zone, backed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), will highlight the achievements of innovative micro, small, and medium-sized UK cybersecurity enterprises.
Enabling Industry Participation
Registration for Infosecurity Europe 2026 is now open, offering attendees the opportunity to explore emerging technologies, engage with industry peers, and participate in the newly launched Cyber Startup Program.
No-cost registration is available until May 12, after which the entry fee will be £49, granting access to the exhibition and numerous theatre sessions featuring prominent industry figures.
Infosecurity Europe, the most influential information security event, running from 2-4 June 2026 at Excel, has announced the launch of its first Cyber Startup Program, a major new initiative designed to champion the next generation of cybersecurity innovators and strengthen the future of the cyber ecosystem.
The new program will debut at Infosecurity Europe 2026, designed to shine a light on the next generation of cybersecurity innovators, bringing startup founders, investors and ecosystem enablers together through a dedicated show-floor experience.
Combining exhibition space, tailored conference content, a live competition and high-impact networking, the Cyber Startup Program reflects Infosecurity Europe’s growing focus on innovation and early-stage growth.
Emerging technologies
Central to the program is the Cyber Startups Zone, a dedicated area on the show floor providing a platform for ambitious startups to demonstrate emerging technologies, share bold ideas and connect directly with customers, partners and investors. Whether hungry for new ideas, looking to invest in emerging tech, or scaling their own cybersecurity business, this is where the future of cyber takes center stage.
With tailored tickets available for startup founders, investors and startup enablers, the Cyber Startup Program is designed to support businesses at every stage of the startup journey, from becoming channel-ready and connecting with partners, to spotting emerging trends and technologies and building relationships with investors and innovation leaders.
Future of cybersecurity
Brad Maule-ffinch, Event Director at Infosecurity Europe, commented, “Supporting early-stage innovation is essential to the future of cybersecurity, and being able to play a meaningful role in spotlighting upcoming innovative and disruptive technologies is a role we are keen to foster and grow. With the launch of the Cyber Startup Program, Infosecurity Europe is creating new opportunities for startups to gain visibility, connect with investors and buyers and use it as a platform to grow too.”
Program details
The program will be delivered in collaboration with UK Cyber Flywheel, with a dedicated day of founder and investor-focused content, networking and the live award competition taking place on Tuesday 2 June. The Infosecurity Europe Cyber Startup Award 2026 will see finalists pitch their ideas live on stage in front of senior industry leaders, investors and buyers, with the winner announced during the show.
The prize package includes a free exhibition stand at Infosecurity Europe 2027 along with expert PR support from cyber security PR agency, Origin Communications, and a brand consultancy and Future-Brand Workshop package from Dusted brand consultancy.
To enter, businesses submit a single written entry of up to 1,000 words, including a summary of the company, the product details and competitive differentiation. More details on full entry requirements can be found here.
Accelerating innovation
“Cybersecurity is crucial for the UK to protect its critical infrastructure, economy and citizens from increasingly sophisticated state-sponsored and criminal cyberattacks. Through the Cyber Flywheel, and in partnership with CISOs, founders, investors and government, we are focused on building a better connected, stronger and more resilient cyber ecosystem across the UK and beyond. The Cyber Startup Program at Infosecurity Europe plays an important role in bringing these communities together and accelerating innovation where it matters most,” commented Munawar Valiji CISO, Cyber Advisor, representing UK Cyber Flywheel.
Event schedule
Additional conference sessions designed specifically for startup founders will run across the event, offering practical insight into scaling, go-to-market strategy and long-term growth.
The Founder Conference Track offers expect practical insights, real-world lessons and perspectives focused on helping founders accelerate growth, such as building a strong cybersecurity brand and market presence and preparing for scale and long-term growth.
Alongside this, the Cyber Innovation Zone, delivered in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), will shine a spotlight on the UK’s most innovative micro, small and medium-sized cybersecurity businesses. The zone will showcase cutting-edge approaches, government-backed initiatives and breakthrough technologies helping to shape the future of the UK cyber landscape.
Registration details
Whether you’re exhibiting, competing, investing or learning, registration for Infosecurity Europe 2026 is now open. Visitors can register now to discover emerging technologies, network with peers, and be part of the inaugural Cyber Startup Program.
Registration for Infosecurity Europe is free until 12th May. After this date, the entry cost to attend will be £49. This includes access to the exhibition show floor and the many theatres where you can see and hear from some of the biggest names in the industry.
