On 21 -22 June, ECSO organised its Polish edition of the anticipated “Cyber Investor Days,” in Katowice, Poland. The event successfully brought together cybersecurity entrepreneurs, cybersecurity experts, and potential investors from various parts of Europe, with the aim of fostering new connections and partnerships. With a comprehensive schedule including B2B networking, discussions, and captivating presentations from seven European cybersecurity start-ups, and one from Ukraine, the event served as a venue for European talents to access financing opportunities and for buyers to discover the pioneering solutions that European enterprises offer. A Jury panel of cybersecurity and entrepreneurship experts evaluated the pitches presented by the start-ups and carefully selected the two companies with the most exceptional pitches to be nominated for ECSO’s STARtup Award taking place in early 2024.
In collaboration with CYBERSEC Forum & Expo 2023, the Kosciuszko Institute, the #CyberMadeInPoland cluster, and the Women4Cyber Foundation, ECSO organised the Cyber Investor Days event in Katowice to provide small- and medium-sized European companies with the exclusive opportunity to meet and discuss their services and products directly with leading cybersecurity investors and corporates. Undoubtedly, the event proved to be a day filled with valuable networking prospects, and a suspenseful jury deliberation on the pitches presented by seven of Europe’s most notable cybersecurity start-ups:
Additionally, ECSO was pleased to showcase Ukrainian cybersecurity competencies with Osavul’s presentation. Osavul is a software company that develops AI-powered protection against information threats, focusing on countering disinformation and influence operations.
After the presentations, the specially selected Jury, comprised of experts Łukasz Gawron (Chairman, CyberMadeInPoland), Paulina Brym-Ciuba (Chairman of the Board, StartUp Hub Poland), Michał Dżoga (Country Manager, Intel), Michal Kanownik (Chairman of the Board, Digital Poland Association), and John Salomon (International Information Security Leader and Strategist, Cybersecurity Advisors Network), was given the difficult task of evaluating these companies’ pitches and nominating the two top presentations to continue to ECSO’s STARtup Award Finals in early 2024. After careful consideration, the Jury announced the two nominees: CyCommSec and Modino.io!
Reflecting on the experience, CyCommSec’s Product Director Michał Suchocki recounted:
“It is an immense honour for CyCommSec to be nominated for the prestigious ECSO STARtup Award. Our journey so far has been marked by determination, innovation, and a shared belief in the importance of robust cybersecurity in our increasingly connected world. As we prepare to compete at the final ceremony, we do so with a sense of gratitude for the recognition of our efforts, and a commitment to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in our field.”
Paweł Żebrowski, Business Strategist at Modino.io, also noted:
“First of all, it was a great honour to be invited to participate in ECSO’s Cyber Investor Days. CYBERSEC FORUM and EXPO is a great place to present your solution, talk to business practitioners and establish valuable business relationships. The award we received is actually an appreciation of the effort of the entire team that stands behind the daily development of Modino.io – I would like to thank the entire jury for appreciating our work and allowing us to present our solution on the international ground at the beginning of next year.”
ECSO congratulates CyCommSec and Modino.io on their success and looks forward to witnessing them in the final competition in early 2024 together with the already nominated companies ONEKEY, Seculyze, Build38, OutKept, ANOZR WAY, and Dust Mobile.
By organising Cyber Investor Days events, ECSO strives to accomplish its larger mission of boosting investments in European start-ups by giving them visibility and exposure on an international level, ultimately strengthening the European cybersecurity market, promoting healthy market competition, and striving for a resilient Europe. ECSO expresses its profound gratitude to this event’s organising partners, the Jury, and the pitching companies that helped make the event so impactful.
