Passguard about their Participation in YES!Delft Cybersecurity Incubator Programme

In 2025, YES!Delft -in collaboration with InnovationQuarter and the Municipality of The Hague- has launched a 'Cybersecurity Incubation Programme' designed to strengthen Europe’s digital resilience and accelerate high-potential cybersecurity startups. One of the participants was the Delft-based cybersecurity startup Passguard. Supported by YES!Delft and powered by the growing cybersecurity ecosystem in The Hague and Zuid-Holland, Passguard enables organisations to detect cyber threats before attackers reach their systems.

Impact and future growth

As hybrid and remote work continue to shape how organisations operate, personal and unmanaged devices have become a significant source of cyber risk. Infostealer malware, now one of the fastest-growing global cyber threats, often spreads unnoticed across home laptops and personal computers. Even organisations with mature security frameworks can be exposed without realising it.

Passguard addresses this vulnerability by detecting stolen credentials, compromised browser sessions and active authentication tokens before they are exploited. This early detection greatly reduces the likelihood of ransomware attacks, account takeovers and data breaches. By providing visibility into dark-web markets where this access is traded, Passguard strengthens the digital resilience of private companies, public institutions and critical infrastructure across Europe.

The startup’s momentum reflects the urgency of this societal need. Since onboarding its first customer in March 2023, Passguard has tripled its annual recurring revenue, secured new investment and expanded to a five-person team. The next phase of growth includes deepening partnerships with managed service providers, expanding its footprint within Europe’s cybersecurity landscape and preparing for a follow-up funding round.

“Tom Leijte, Co-founder & CEO, Passguard: With YES!Delft’s support and the regional cybersecurity infrastructure, we’ve been able to validate and scale our solution much faster.”

Growing in Europe’s strongest cybersecurity ecosystem

The creation of Passguard demonstrates how swiftly cybersecurity solutions may progress when they are integrated into the appropriate setting. Its trajectory is indicative of a larger need for organised assistance among early-stage cybersecurity businesses, which is exactly what the Cybersecurity Incubation Programme is intended to provide.

The programme helps startups verify their technologies more quickly and speed their journey to market by positioning them within a practice-oriented, well-connected environment. The programme, which has its roots in The Hague's well-established cybersecurity ecosystem, puts entrepreneurs in an environment where government agencies, academic institutions, and businesses collaborate on digital security issues. Founders have the chance to improve technology, comprehend real-world risks, and scale solutions that are both socially and technically sound in this setting.

Through this programme, cybersecurity startups gain access to:

• A strong network of cybersecurity partners and corporate innovators;
• Mentorship from leading cybersecurity experts;
• Tailored support in securing investment;
• Market validation and structured growth pathways;
• A launchpad into one of Europe’s most advanced cybersecurity ecosystems.

Cybersecurity Incubation Programme 2026

Registration for the Cybersecurity Accelerator & Validation Programma 2026 is open. For more information and to sign up, click here >

The programme is supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, TNO, Ministry of Justice and Security (JenV), ROM-NL, Security Delta (HSD), HSD Campus, TU Delft and Digital Holland (Topsector ICT), and is aligned with the KIA Security and KIA Digitalization partnership.

Source: InnovationQuarter