The Hague to host the European Cybersecurity STARtup Award final competition to boost investment in the sector.

European Cybersecurity STARtup Award.

The European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO), Security Delta (HSD), InnovationQuarter, The Hague Convention Bureau, and TIIN Capital B.V. announce the final competition of Europe’s main start-up match-making event solely focused on cybersecurity: the European Cybersecurity STARtup Award.

On the 5th and 6th April, 12 start-ups and SMEs, a jury of cybersecurity experts and investors, as well as top European policy makers will gather in The Hague, the Netherlands, to select the winner of this prestigious prize and grant a unique business opportunity in Europe.

In today’s fragmented European cybersecurity market, SMEs and start-ups often struggle to find the right opportunity to gain visibility, investments and to enter in a larger European market where they can promote their cybersecurity products and services. To overcome this market fragmentation and increase the awareness and visibility of state-of-the-art cybersecurity companies at European and global level, the yearly European Cybersecurity STARtup Award competition allows SMEs and start-ups to pitch their ideas and network with experts and investors, and win a mentoring opportunity, as well as a one-year subscription to the CYBERSECURITY MADE IN EUROPE Label.

In 2022, the final competition is hosted by the city of The Hague, providing insights into the Dutch cybersecurity ecosystem.

“A robust European cybersecurity industry means a better protected digital Europe”, said ECSO Secretary General Luigi Rebuffi. “With the ECSO STARtup Award we want to facilitate cooperation at EU level for investments and market deployment and give visibility to European cybersecurity solutions. ECSO is glad to cooperate with our Dutch partners to provide European start-ups with such an important opportunity: these 12 finalists are outstanding companies, and therefore deserve all the visibility and support they can get”, he concluded.

“Having some of Europe’s brightest cybersecurity entrepreneurs pitch their companies in our own backyard is exciting. Not only exciting for us as investors, but for the entire Dutch and European ecosystem. Cybersecurity is paramount in today’s society and transcends borders. Through our involvement with ECSO, we are therefore glad that together with IQ, HSD, and The Hague Municipality we could bring this event to the city of The Hague and put the spotlight on the entrepreneurs and build pan-European relationships for investments in cybersecurity”, said Michael Lucassen, Managing Partner TIIN Capital.

“As the Dutch eco-system in Digital Security we make local buzz and build international bridges between public and private partners. We provide, amongst others, access to innovation, market, and capital for growth. Joining forces now with the European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO), The Hague Municipality, InnovationQuarter and TIIN Capital/Dutch Security TechFund for the Cyber Investor Days and the European Cybersecurity STARtup Award 2021/22 final competition shows how our network can pave the way on the European level for cybersecurity start-ups, VCs & industry representatives”, said Joris den Bruinen, General Director Security Delta (HSD).

A major hub for cybersecurity in Europe – the Greater Rotterdam – The Hague area.

The Hague has established itself as the international city of peace, justice and security. It is a major hub for cybersecurity in Europe, with the presence of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, NATO Communications and Information Agency, the Dutch cybersecurity, intelligence and security agencies as well as a wide range of cybersecurity businesses. The Hague has an unparalleled ecosystem around cybersecurity – the Security Delta (HSD) – with over 275 public and private partners collaborating to make a difference in securing our digitising society. The core is the HSD Campus in The Hague. The ecosystem is designed to facilitate organisations by providing access to knowledge, innovation, talent, capital and market.

“In fact, about 32% of all Dutch cybersecurity firms are based in the Greater Rotterdam – The Hague area”, said Martijn van Hoogenhuijze and Philip Meijer, both Senior Account Managers Cybersecurity at InnovationQuarter.

Moreover, the Greater Rotterdam – The Hague area is facilitating ground for the usage of AI and Data Science in the area of Security, Peace and Justice. And the regional initiatives such as Zuid-HollandAI unlock one of the largest AI ecosystems in the Netherlands, offering a solid platform focused on accelerating developments and innovation in AI and data science in the Greater Rotterdam – The Hague area.

Investing in the backbone of Europe’s economy.

The Cybersecurity STARtup Award competition embeds the European value of diversity, gathering finalists from five different EU countries and aims at building a stronger and autonomous European digital sovereignty by investing in the backbone of Europe’s economy: SMEs and start-ups.

Access to the event is free of charge, but registration is compulsory. Click here to register.

About ECSO.

he European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO) is a non-for-profit organisation, established in 2016. ECSO unites more than 260 European cybersecurity stakeholders, including large companies, SMEs and start-ups, research centres, universities, end-users, operators, associations and national administrations. ECSO works with its Members and Partners to develop a competitive European cybersecurity ecosystem providing trusted cybersecurity solutions and advancing Europe’s cybersecurity posture and its technological independence. More information: www.ecs-org.eu. 

About TIIN CAPITAL.

TIIN Capital is a venture capital firm formed by a strong combination of angel investors, family offices, governmental bodies, and corporates. Founded in 1998, TIIN Capital invests in technology companies through several funds and launched its 6th Venture Capital Fund in 2018: the Dutch Security TechFund. With this fund we focus on early to growth stage companies, active in Cybersecurity and Security solutions. Our purpose is to help passionate people build great companies. Partnering with TIIN Capital means joining an empowering network of business leaders, entrepreneurs, techies and potential partners. For more information see: www.tiincapital.nl.

About The Hague Convention Bureau.

The Hague Convention Bureau is helping associations and event organizers access The Hague’s knowledge and event infrastructure with many international organizations and companies as well as world-class event locations.

World-known as the International City of Peace and Justice, The Hague is the city where talented people are working on innovations toward creating a better, safer and more just world. With a large number of established as well as growing networks, the city especially welcomes events related to New Energy, Finance, Legal & Policy, It & Technology, Impact Economy and Cyber Security.

About InnovationQuarter.

InnovationQuarter (innovationquarter.nl) is the regional development agency for the region South-Holland. It invests in innovative, fast-growing local enterprises and helps transnational companies become established in this unique delta region. InnovationQuarter also facilitates national and international collaboration between forward-thinking entrepreneurs, knowledge institutes and governments. By collaborating with the business community, the agency is helping to make region South-Holland one of the most innovative regions in Europe. As a lifecycle financier, InnovationQuarter finances companies in different cycles of their business growth and draws its investments from four funds: IQCapital, UNIIQ, ENERGIIQ and the Rotterdam Energy Transition Fund.

About Security Delta.

Security Delta (HSD) is the Dutch security cluster. Over 275 companies, governmental organisations and knowledge institutions have been working together since 2013 to make a difference in securing our digitising society. They share their knowledge and collaborate on innovative security solutions, which can be scaled within the Netherlands and internationally. HSD ‘thinks, dares and acts’. By providing access to knowledge, innovation, market, finance, and talent, HSD takes care of the preconditions for a successful security cluster. The HSD Campus in The Hague is the cluster’s inspiring meeting place. We do this with the common goal of strengthening the Dutch economy, increasing employment rates and making the Netherlands more digitally resilient. For more information see: www.securitydelta.nl