Tag Archives: Cyber Runway

Expanding to the US: Lessons from Internationalization Experts

International expansion is a significant milestone for any startup, but it comes with its own set of complexities. In a recent discussion led by John Kinson, an experienced consultant specializing in global market entry and startup scaling, founders and executives explored the realities of expanding into the US. The conversation covered market readiness, legal and regulatory considerations, hiring strategies, and the cultural nuances that can make or break a company’s success overseas.

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Disability Inclusion in the Workplace: Key Takeaways from Disability Rights UK’s Talk

Disability inclusion is a vital yet often misunderstood aspect of workplace diversity. In a recent session hosted at Plexal, Kamran Mallick, CEO of Disability Rights UK, provided valuable insights into what it means to create a truly inclusive work environment. His talk covered the social model of disability, legal obligations under the Equality Act, workplace adjustments, and practical steps businesses can take to foster inclusivity.

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Scaling a Cyber Intelligence Business: Lessons from Crisp’s Growth Journey with John-Orr Hanna

Scaling a company from a small team to a global market leader is a challenge that requires smart hiring, a robust governance model, and a deep understanding of customer needs. In a recent Cyber Runway Founders Fireside, John-Orr Hanna, former Chief Intelligence Officer at Crisp, shared his experience of growing the company from a handful of analysts to over 140 employees and achieving a 15x business expansion in four years.

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Exit Strategy 4: Getting Ready to Sell: A Practical Guide to Due Diligence

Selling your business is one of the most significant milestones in an entrepreneur’s journey. However, even the most attractive businesses can falter during due diligence if they are not properly prepared. This stage is where buyers scrutinize every aspect of your business to evaluate risks, verify claims, and confirm the value they’re willing to pay.

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Scaling Success: The TryHackMe Journey with Co-founder Ashu Savani

Building a successful startup requires more than just a great idea, it takes execution, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to understanding your customers. This was the key takeaway from the recent Cyber Runway Founders Fireside session with Ashu Savani, co-founder of TryHackMe, a cybersecurity training platform that has grown into a 20-million-dollar revenue business without any external investment.

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Burnout-Proofing Your Startup Team: Lessons from The Zensory

This Cyber Runway Scale session focused on preventing burnout in startup teams, addressing the mental and physical toll of high-growth environments. Experts shared strategies for work-life balance, team resilience, and sustainable leadership to ensure long-term success in cybersecurity startups.

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Lessons from the Founder’s Fireside: Chris Wallis, CEO of Intruder

Chris from Intruder joined the Cyber Runway: Scale Founders Fireside session to share his journey in building a successful cybersecurity startup. The conversation explored the challenges of product development, securing investment, and adapting to industry shifts while growing a cyber business.

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Exit Strategy 3: What Makes Your Business Valuable? A Guide to Valuation Drivers

When it comes to planning an exit, understanding your business’s value, and the factors that drive it, is essential. Whether you’re preparing for a trade sale, IPO, or private equity investment, the right focus on valuation drivers can significantly enhance your outcomes. In this article, we explore the key components of valuation, strategies to improve them, and common pitfalls to avoid.

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Building and Maintaining Momentum in B2B Sales: A Strategic Approach

B2B sales is challenging, now more than ever. Tightening budgets, economic uncertainty, and an increasingly competitive landscape mean sales teams must be more strategic than ever in how they generate and sustain momentum. In a recent Cyber Runway session, Tom Glason, CEO of ScaleWise, shared insights on optimizing B2B sales strategies. With over 20 years of experience in B2B tech and leadership roles across startups and scaleups, Tom provided a roadmap for improving sales processes, from effective discovery calls to engaging product demos.

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Neurodiversity and Cyber: Understanding One in Five of Your Industry with Mary Welton of Plexal

Neurodiversity is a vital consideration in cybersecurity, with one in five professionals in the industry identifying as neurodivergent. This article, based on a Cyber Runway: Scale session led by a Plexal Innovation Associate, explores the importance of neurodiversity, common misconceptions, and practical ways to support neurodivergent employees while maximizing their unique strengths.

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Cyber Runway: Scale 4.0 – Key Updates and Opportunities for Startups – New Year Briefing Notes

This article summarizes key announcements and discussions from the latest Cyber Runway: Scale session, including updates on the new Founders Forum, upcoming trade missions, regional events, and opportunities for startups to engage with investors and government stakeholders.

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Exit Strategy 2: Choosing the Right Exit Type: Trade Sale, IPO, or Private Equity?

When planning your business exit, selecting the right type of transaction is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make. Each exit type comes with its opportunities, challenges, and suitability based on your goals and the stage of your business. In this article, we’ll explore the key exit types, trade sale, Initial Public Offering (IPO), private equity (PE), and management buyout (MBO), and help you identify which might be the best fit for your business.

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Exit Strategy 1: Planning Your Business Exit: The Roadmap to Success

Every business journey eventually leads to a crossroads: the decision to continue growing, transition ownership, or step away entirely. An exit strategy is your blueprint for navigating this critical phase, allowing you to realize the value of your hard work while setting the stage for future success, whether yours or the business’s.

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Alternatives to Corporate Venture Capital

This article explores alternatives to Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) for organizations seeking innovation and strategic growth without directly investing in startups. Drawing insights from a Cyber Runway: Scale Accelerator Programme session, it outlines ten key strategies, including internal R&D, mergers and acquisitions, open innovation, and academic collaborations. Each approach is analyzed for its advantages and drawbacks, providing a comprehensive guide to help organizations tailor their innovation strategies based on their goals, resources, and risk tolerance.

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Corporate Venture Capital (CVC): A Comprehensive Guide

Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) is a strategic approach where corporations invest directly in startup companies. It blends the agility of venture capital with the strategic intent of established businesses. This article explores the history, benefits, drawbacks, and a step-by-step guide to leveraging CVC effectively.

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The Growth Equation by Andy Budd: Summary, Key Advice, and Critique

Andy Budd’s The Growth Equation examines how businesses, especially startups and scale-ups, can achieve sustainable growth by balancing expansion with operational stability. Budd identifies three key components of sustainable development: Product Market Fit, Efficient Operations, and Strategic Adaptability. The book offers actionable advice, including cultivating a learning culture, aligning growth with team capacity, and investing in leadership and culture.

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Investor Panel with Hattie Willis, Andy Budd, Joseph Aziz, and Andy Ayim MBE

This article summarizes key insights from a panel of experienced investors, Andy Budd (Seedcamp), Joseph Aziz (True Global), and Andy Ayim MBE (Angel Investing School), on navigating the fundraising journey. The discussion covers strategies for targeting the right investors, achieving product-market fit, and leveraging alternative funding sources, including corporate venture capital (CVC). Founders are advised to focus on why their team and timing are right, build strategic partnerships, and understand geographical and cultural differences in risk appetite. The panel emphasizes practical, actionable advice for founders to secure funding and build resilient businesses.

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Building a Team and Structure for Series A Growth

Lucy Bulley joined the Cyber Runway Scale programme to discuss the critical elements of team-building and organisational structure when preparing for Series A funding. She shared practical insights on hiring strategies, leadership development, and scaling operations to support high-growth cybersecurity startups.

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Understanding GAAP Accounting: What It Is and What It’s Not

This article explores the principles and practices of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), inspired by discussions on financial transparency and standardisation in accounting. It outlines the key features of GAAP, such as accrual-based accounting, comprehensive reporting, and compliance, while addressing its benefits in fostering investor trust and comparability across industries. The article also discusses the challenges businesses face in implementing GAAP and the potential solutions, such as affordable tools, to ease the transition. By balancing its advantages and hurdles, the article underscores the critical role of GAAP in business growth and strategic exits.

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Exit Planning Common Mistakes with Tom Stoten

Planning a successful business exit requires foresight, preparation, and a clear strategy. This article provides a structured roadmap to help businesses optimise their value, mitigate risks, and prepare for smooth transitions, whether through trade sales, private equity (PE), or IPOs. This guide distils complex processes into actionable advice tailored to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). It covers essential aspects like valuation drivers, transaction types, due diligence, and benchmarking while addressing common challenges faced by founders during the exit process.

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