Where Europe’s Cybersecurity Start-Ups Meet Investors: ECSO Cyber Investors Days 2026

On 8 October, the ECSO Cyber Investor Days 2026 (The Hague edition) was held at the HSD Campus during the Cybersecurity Week. Ten of Europe’s leading cybersecurity start-ups had the opportunity to present their cutting-edge solutions to a distinguished panel of expert judges. Following all the pitches, the two stand-out start-ups MON5 and Nemesis were nominated for the ECSO STARtup Award 2027, setting the stage for further competition at the European level. 

The event kicked off with opening remarks by Lars Crama (InnovationQuarter). With his “Power of Connection in 1 Minute” exercise, he brought the room to life and created an energetic, vibrant atmosphere. Francisco Andrade e Silva (European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO)) highlighted the importance of collaboration within the cybersecurity sector. The opening remarks were followed by a keynote, “The Death of the Patch Cycle”, delivered by Adrian Beyers (Accenture).

This year’s featured start-ups included 3rdComply, CYBERSOL, Darkscope, Ironpact, MON5, Nemesis, NNEAT, Securagen.ai, TrustQlick and Weagle. All these innovative companies had the opportunity to pitch their cybersecurity solutions to an expert panel, showcasing their technologies and ambitions while seeking funding and potential partnerships to help take their businesses to the next stage of development. 

This year's jury consisted of: 

• Kayin Lam —TIN Capital | European Cybersecurity Investors
• Lizzy Klijs — CyberAlloy
• Lilian Knippenberg — Municipality of The Hague
• Fabio Pirovano — United Ventures
• Marnix Vermeij — InnovationQuarter
• Dan Vasile — Arrive

Bringing expertise across investment, cybersecurity, innovation and the public sector, the jury contributed diverse perspectives to the pitches and discussions throughout the event.

Following all the pitches, the programme continued with a fireside chat titled “Go-to-Market in Cybersecurity: Never a Dull Moment”, featuring Michael Lucassen (TIN Capital), Piet Kerkhofs (Eye Security), Roeland Delrue (Aikido) and Seemant Sehgal (Breachlock). This was followed by a presentation of the ECSO Cybersecurity Investment and M&A Report 2025, delivered by Francisco Andrade e Silva from the European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO), offering insights into investment and M&A trends across the European cybersecurity landscape.

The programme then reached its much-anticipated finale, with the winners being announced.

Access to Capital 

The event, part of HSD’s Access to Capital proposition, was co-organised by ECSO, CyberHive, Women4Cyber, Accenture, InnovationQuarter, the City of The Hague, TIN Capital, and Security Delta (HSD). This collaboration provided cybersecurity entrepreneurs a vital platform to meet and network with investors, alongside matchmaking opportunities with leading cybersecurity firms from across Europe and beyond. 

Joris den Bruinen, general director of Security Delta (HSD), emphasised the significance of the event: “By working closely with our co-organisers, we are strengthening international connections between start-ups, scale-ups, and investors at both the Dutch and European level. As part of HSD's Access to Capital initiative, these events are essential in opening up access to capital and business opportunities that enable companies to scale”.

ECSO STARtup Award 2027 Finalists 

The Dutch edition of the ECSO Cyber Investor Days selected MON5 and Nemesis as finalists to compete in the European Cybersecurity STARtup Award 2027, which will be held in Brussels early 2027. These start-ups will have the chance to pitch their solutions to a European jury and showcase their technologies to top investors, corporate leaders, and cybersecurity experts. 

A hub for cybersecurity in Europe 

The Cyber Investor Days were part of Cybersecurity Week 2026, a key event held in The Hague, which also included the renowned ONE Conference at the World Forum. As the international city of Peace, Justice and Security,  The Hague plays a pivotal role in the European cybersecurity landscape. Home to institutions like Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre and the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA), and supported by a dynamic network of businesses and agencies, The Hague is strengthening its role as a leading European cybersecurity hub.

Photo: Holland Park Media