A cohort of 10 cybersecurity startups from the UK, India, Singapore, and the US has been selected for the inaugural CyberBoost Catalyse programme, a new initiative by London-based Plexal in partnership with the National University of Singapore (NUS).
This diverse group, ranging from seed-funded to Series-B stages, will receive customized support to expedite their growth by securing funding, establishing international networks, and creating effective market entry strategies for different regions.
The six-month programme will be held in Singapore at the CyberSG Talent, Innovation and Growth (TIG) Collaboration Centre—a joint effort between the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and NUS. It will feature both in-person and remote sessions, with opportunities for all participating startups to present their services at the Singapore International Cyber Week and the GovWare Conference and Exhibition, both occurring in October.
“Following the official launch of the CyberSG TIG Centre in July, we are excited to progress to the next stage of CyberBoost,” said Saj Huq, Plexal’s Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Innovation. “At Plexal, we believe that collaborative innovation can address global challenges, provided there is mutual alignment.”
He emphasized the importance of partnering with CSA and NUS, noting, “Singapore stands as Asia’s leading smart city with one of the world’s most competitive economies. By collaborating, we are well-positioned to assist startups in navigating Singapore’s dynamic market and exploring broader opportunities across Asia Pacific and beyond.”
Among the selected startups is CyberCyte, founded by entrepreneur Necati Ertugu, who has roots in Turkey. CyberCyte offers an AI-driven risk and continuous threat exposure management platform that helps users identify, assess, and prioritize risks, providing enhanced visibility into their risk profiles and automating responses to various threats, vulnerabilities, and operational errors. Ertugu aims to expand into several Asian markets including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, as well as Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Another participant is SQR, headquartered on the Isle of Man and led by Shelley Langan-Newton, a former teacher with experience at satellite communications company BlueWave. SQR’s identity verification platform seeks to transform electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) compliance and both online and in-person identity verification. Langan-Newton is looking to grow in Singapore and the UK, with a focus on the maritime and financial services sectors.
Other selected companies include Antarex Cyber, a Singapore-based MSSP specializing in ISP network protection; India’s Athenian Tech, which focuses on AI threat detection and data protection; Cloudsine from Singapore, emphasizing web and IoT security for critical infrastructure; InsiderSecurity, a Singaporean security software-as-a-service platform; Protos Labs, also from Singapore, which offers risk analytics; Singaporean pQCee, addressing future quantum threats; Scantist, a Singapore-based code analysis platform for software supply chains; and VulnCheck from the US, known for real-time exploit and vulnerability intelligence.
Benjamin Tee, Vice-President for Ecosystem Building at NUS Enterprise, commented, “NUS Enterprise is committed to nurturing an innovative startup ecosystem across various sectors. The launch of the CyberBoost Catalyse programme at the CyberSG TIG Centre further enhances our commitment to developing a diverse international community of cybersecurity startups. As Singapore evolves into a global hub for cybersecurity innovation, this programme is crucial for cultivating the next generation of cybersecurity leaders and technologies.”