Ten international startups have been selected to join the inaugural CyberBoost Catalyse programme. The programme will be carried out at the CyberSG Talent, Innovation and Growth (TIG) Collaboration Centre, a joint initiative between the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and National University of Singapore (NUS).
The startups selected for the programme represent a diverse mix of seed to Series B-funded companies, with one from India, six from Singapore, two from the UK and one from the US. The businesses are in Singapore this week for the programme launch at the CyberSG TIG Collaboration Centre, where they will receive the necessary support as they look to grow in Singapore, Asia Pacific, the UK and beyond.
The CyberBoost Catalyse programme is designed to provide the startup cohort with the information, tools and networks needed to fast-track their growth objectives, allowing them to go beyond their existing territories with an open gateway into key international markets. They will be supported with securing investment, building their overseas networks and developing go-to-market strategies for new geographic locations.
The programme is delivered in-person and remotely for six months. As part of it, the startups will have opportunities to attend and showcase themselves at international events, including Singapore International Cyber Week and GovWare Conference and Exhibition.
The ten startups to join the CyberBoost Catalyse programme are:
Antarex Cyber (Singapore): Chief Executive Officer Tan Pek Loon leads this Singapore-based Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), which secures critical internet service provider (ISP) infrastructure from transit to enterprise with its Antarex Managed Extended Operations Centre (MXOC) AI platform. By creating an ecosystem, it empowers ISPs to offer affordable, enterprise-grade protection to SMEs while driving returns. The startup operates in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines and is looking to expand into the UK, Indonesia, Australia and Vietnam.
Athenian Tech (India): Kanishk Gaur advises governments on cyber security that affects national security and is the founder of Athenian Tech, which specialises in AI-driven threat detection and data protection. Its predictive analytics can identify and neutralise cyber threats before they strike. It operates in India, the US, the UK and Indonesia and is looking to expand into Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Cloudsine (Singapore): Founder and CEO Matthias Chin is a serial tech entrepreneur. Cloudsine is trusted by over 40 enterprises in Asia and offers two innovative products: WebOrion® for robust web security and an AI-powered IoT security platform. It aims to safeguard digital assets with application-led security for enterprises and critical infrastructure. It operates in Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand and is looking to expand into the UK and the US.
CyberCyte (UK): Having exited a startup in Turkey, Necati Ertugru founded CyberCyte, an AI-driven risk and continuous threat exposure management platform (X-CTEM) that continuously identifies, assesses and prioritises security risks for complete visibility and automated response to threats, vulnerabilities, and misconfigurations. After seeing success in the UK, it is looking to expand into Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and the GCC.
InsiderSecurity (Singapore): Jonathan Phua, CEO, is using his 17 years of experience in the cyber sector to scale InsiderSecurity, which simplifies cyber security with AI and analytics. Its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) products are used by the Singapore government, critical infrastructure and listed companies. It is the first cyber security software company in Southeast Asia to achieve Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) Security, Trust, Assurance, and Risk (STAR) Level 2 certification, the global standard in cloud security. The startup operates in Singapore and Malaysia and is looking to expand into Thailand, the US, the UK and Indonesia.
Protos Labs (Singapore): Protos Labs is a cyber risk management company founded by ex-Booz Allen Hamilton cyber leaders. Its patented cyber risk analytics provides real-time insights on a single platform, empowering enterprises to quantify and mitigate risks. Having grown in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, it is looking to expand into Thailand, the US and the UK.
pQCee (Singapore): pQCee is a quantum cyber security startup. Its post-quantum products and services strengthen and protect the next generation of computing against quantum attacks. The startup is looking to expand beyond Singapore into global markets, starting with the US and UK.
Scantist (Singapore): Scantist uses proprietary AI-driven analysis technologies for deep analysis of binary files, code snippets and licensing information, ensuring comprehensive Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) verification and security management for application supply chains. Charles Huang, Chief Operating Officer and co-founder, is leading its growth beyond Singapore into global markets, starting with the UK, Malaysia and Vietnam.
SQR (UK): SQR is an award-winning cyber-security company on a mission to make the world a safer place through secure, efficient and inclusive ID verification. Through innovation and collaboration, SQR is at the forefront of revolutionising electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) compliance management practices and online and in-person identity verification.
Having grown SQR in the UK, CEO Shelley Langan-Newton is looking to explore growth in Singapore and the UK, with a focus on the maritime and financial services sectors.
VulnCheck (US): VulnCheck is a real-time exploit and vulnerability intelligence company that collects over 300 million unique data points from over 400 sources and offers real-time monitoring of exploit proof of concepts (PoCs) and defence against initial access vulnerabilities. This enables faster decision-making for enterprise and Governments. Jay Wallace, VP of Global Sales, is looking to further grow in the US and Singapore and expand into the UK and Japan.
“NUS Enterprise is dedicated to fostering a vibrant innovation and startup ecosystem that supports and nurtures startup growth across various industry sectors, said Associate Professor Benjamin Tee from the NUS. “The newly launched CyberBoost Catalyse programme at the CyberSG TIG centre further strengthens our commitment towards accelerating the development of a diverse international community of cyber security startups. As Singapore becomes a global hub for cyber security innovation, such a programme plays a vital role to nurture the next generation of cyber security leaders and technologies.”
“Having attended the official launch of the CyberSG TIG Centre in July, we’re thrilled to move to the next phase of our CyberBoost,” said Saj Huq, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Innovation at Plexal, the innovation company founded by Delancey and NUS. “At Plexal we understand that harnessing collaborative innovation can solve global challenges – but this requires mutual alignment. Therefore, it’s a pleasure working alongside CSA and NUS, two partners that understand the importance of breaking down international barriers and accelerating technologies.
“Singapore is Asia’s leading smart city, and the country boasts the world’s most competitive economy. Building on this, Plexal, together with CSA and NUS, are poised to support startups tap into Singapore’s dynamic market, as well as broader opportunities across the Asia Pacific and beyond.”
