Updated:
Cyber London (CyLon)
CyLon is a London- and Oxford-based accelerator for early-stage cybersecurity startups.
Cyber London (CyLon)
CyLon was launched in 2014 by serial entrepreneurs Paddy Harker and Todd O'Boyle, who identified a gap in Europe for a focused early-stage program tailored to cybersecurity founders. The accelerator operates two cohorts per year, each running for 13 weeks from its Oxford base, offering mentorship from industry practitioners — former CISOs, intelligence veterans, and venture partners. The firm's model is equity-based: it takes a standard stake in exchange for £20,000 in seed capital (per public record). The accelerator targets pre-seed and seed-stage companies building in cyber defense, infrastructure security, enterprise compliance, and adjacent AI/ML applications. CyLon does not maintain a conventional asset-class mix—it is a programmatic investor, not a fund manager, and does not deploy later-stage capital or hold SPVs. Its portfolio spans roughly two dozen countries globally, with a heavy concentration in the UK, Israel, and the Baltics. Confirmed alumni include SOC.OS, a UK-based security operations platform, and CyberOwl, a maritime cyber monitoring firm (per public record). CyLon operates with a lean, expert-led team; headcount has typically stayed under ten core staff, supplemented by a network of mentors and guest speakers. The firm has no disclosed AUM and does not raise institutional capital for the program itself. No recent operational events (within the last 24 months) have been formally disclosed; the latest confirmed cohort was the Spring 2024 intake, which included six startups from the UK and Europe. What sets CyLon apart structurally is its pure programmatic model — it does not manage a fund, take carried interest, or follow-on invest from a dedicated vehicle. It is best understood as a sector-specific foundry for founders, not an asset manager. That makes it distinct from a venture capital firm or family office: CyLon's return comes from portfolio exits and follow-on rounds, which are then recycled back into future cohorts.
General information
Firm type
Venture Accelerator
Year founded
2014
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
City
London
Corporate office
Oxford, United Kingdom
Principals
Paddy Harker
Co-Founder
Todd O'Boyle
Co-Founder
Conrad Swain
Head of Delivery
Shane O'Dwyer
Head of Delivery
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who founded CyLon, and what is their background?
CyLon was co-founded in 2014 by Paddy Harker and Todd O'Boyle. Harker previously built and sold a security technology company, while O'Boyle brings operational experience from the UK intelligence community and early-stage venture. Both remain active in program direction (per public record).
How does CyLon invest in startups?
CyLon offers a standard investment of £20,000 in exchange for equity, typically 8-10%, to each cohort company. The program does not charge participation fees or take any other carry. Follow-on investment is not provided from a dedicated CyLon fund; portfolio companies raise subsequent rounds from external VCs (per public record).
What types of companies does CyLon accept?
CyLon accepts pre-seed and seed-stage startups focused on cybersecurity, including enterprise security tools, network defense, compliance, and AI-driven threat detection. The firm explicitly avoids crypto, blockchain, and general IT services. Most companies have a prototype or minimal viable product (per public record).
Where are CyLon's portfolio companies based?
CyLon has backed companies from over 20 countries, with a strong UK and European presence. The Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) and Israel are particularly well-represented in its alumni list. The accelerator is location-agnostic for applications but requires founders to attend the Oxford-based program in person (per public record).
Is CyLon an investor or just an accelerator?
CyLon is both. It functions as an accelerator program that provides capital and mentorship, but it also takes an equity stake in each portfolio company. It does not, however, manage a venture capital fund or raise limited partner capital — it operates as a standalone programmatic entity (per public record).
What happens to CyLon's portfolio companies after the program?
Graduated companies receive ongoing access to CyLon's mentor network and alumni community, but the accelerator does not provide follow-on funding or reserved allocation. Portfolio companies typically raise seed and Series A rounds from external VCs. Examples include SOC.OS, which later raised from BGF, and CyberOwl, which secured maritime industry funding (per public record).
Does CyLon have a successor fund or follow-on vehicle?
No. CyLon has not disclosed any plans to raise a dedicated fund, SPV, or co-investment vehicle for follow-on rounds. Its returns are generated through successful exits of its equity stakes, which are then recycled to fund future cohort programs. This structure distinguishes it from typical venture capital accelerators like Y Combinator or Techstars, which often maintain later-stage funds (per public record).
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on family offices?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: