UK Cybersecurity Startup Hacktonics Wins National Competition

UK cybersecurity startup Hacktonics has claimed top honors at the prestigious 'Cyber Den' competition held during CYBERUK 2026.

Founded in 2023 as a spinout from the University of Bristol by Professor Awais Rashid, Dr.

Louise Evans, Hacktonics focuses on protecting critical infrastructure like water plants and energy networks.

Their unique approach uses proprietary hardware and open-source platforms to create realistic simulations, effectively placing the complexity of a power plant on a desk.

This hands-on training methodology is designed to bridge the skills gap in a sector often overshadowed by traditional IT security.

Supported by Innovate UK and previous participants in the Cyber Runway CNI programme, the founders recently met with Minister Baroness Liz Lloyd to discuss enhancing the UK's national cyber resilience.

With regional bootcamps and specialized Linux distributions, Hacktonics is actively lowering barriers to entry, ensuring the country has the talent needed to safeguard its essential systems against modern digital threats.