The best cybersecurity events for founders in 2027 are the ones where security startups can pitch, win a stand or meet the buyers who sign contracts: CISOs, governments and critical infrastructure. These are the ten worth planning around, from Lille, London, Liverpool, Brussels, Paris and The Hague to Tel Aviv, Dubai, San Francisco and Denver.
Cybersecurity is a sector where your first customers are often large companies and public bodies, so we chose events with a startup programme, a pitch competition or a strong buyer audience. Europe comes first, with the best of the rest of the world, and two events focus on women in security. We checked every date on the organiser's own website and mark each one as Confirmed (date on the official site), Announced (reliable second source only) or Expected (based on past editions only). All ten below are Confirmed.
This article is regularly updated with new events. Do you know about an event that needs to be added? Send us some info and we will see if it's a fit.
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Top 10 Cybersecurity Startup Events of 2027 at a Glance
The 10 best cybersecurity startup events of 2027
1. Cybertech Global TLV: 25–27 January 2027, Tel Aviv
Cybertech opens the cyber year in Israel, a country known for its many security startups. Startups can join the Startup Pavilion on the exhibition floor. The visitor pass rose from free to $100 on 19 October 2026, so compare the passes on the registration page before you buy.
2. Forum INCYBER Europe: 9–11 March 2027, Lille
Formerly the FIC, organised by Forward Global. For founders, the key part is the INCYBER Startup Awards: applying is free and does not require a partnership. Applications run until 7 December 2026, auditions are on 28 January and 4 February 2027, and winners get a pod in the Innovation Village and receive their award on 9 March.
3. WiCyS 2027: 17–19 March 2027, Denver
The yearly conference of Women in CyberSecurity, the largest women-in-cyber community. Go to find co-founders, early hires, mentors and sponsors, and to meet security leaders who want to buy from and back more women-led companies.
4. RSAC Conference and Innovation Sandbox: 5–8 April 2027, San Francisco
The organiser counts 43,000 attendees and 600 exhibitors. The Innovation Sandbox is the world's best-known cyber startup contest: each of the Top 10 finalists receives a $5 million uncapped SAFE investment, and the winner is named Most Innovative Startup 2027. Submissions open on 1 December 2026 for products launched between 1 December 2025 and 10 January 2027. RSAC also runs a Launch Pad pitch and an Early Stage Expo for young companies.
5. GISEC GLOBAL: 4–6 May 2027, Dubai
The Middle East and Africa's main cyber show. It is free to visit, and in 2026 it ran a startup area with pods, an investor zone and a pitch competition; check the 2027 startup programme on the official site. Go if you want buyers in the Gulf, where governments and banks spend heavily on security.
6. CYBERUK: 11–13 May 2027, Liverpool
Hosted by the National Cyber Security Centre, with the theme "How do we secure the AI era?". In 2026 it counted more than 3,200 attendees and 177 sponsors and exhibitors. The best room in the UK to meet public-sector buyers and the people who shape the country's cyber policy.
7. CYSAT Paris: 19–20 May 2027, Paris
A niche event for a fast-growing niche: securing satellites and ground stations. The organiser, CYSEC, counts more than 600 attendees and 75 speakers, and lists NewSpace startup founders among its audience. It takes place at Station F, Europe's largest startup campus.
8. Cybersec Europe: 26–27 May 2027, Brussels
The organiser presents the show as a platform for experienced cyber security experts and next-generation startups, and plans a new OT Theatre for operational technology in 2027. Brussels puts you close to the EU institutions that write the rules your customers must follow.
9. Infosecurity Europe: 8–10 June 2027, London
The Cyber Startup Programme includes a Cyber Startups Zone on the show floor, a Cyber Startup Award and networking between founders and investors. The show also hosts a yearly Women in Cybersecurity event on its keynote stage; 2026 was the tenth edition.
10. ONE Conference: 5–6 October 2027, The Hague
A public–private conference in the Dutch capital; its site carries the logos of the Dutch National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC-NL) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Useful for meeting Dutch and European government and enterprise security teams in one place.
Also worth a look
- Black Hat Asia, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, 28 February–3 March 2027, and Black Hat USA, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, 31 July–5 August 2027: technical briefings and trainings where security buyers and researchers test new products. blackhat.com
- GITEX AI Mediterranean, La Nuvola, Rome, 21–22 April 2027: a tech show with a cyber section and the Supernova Pitch Competition; trade visitors only. gitexitaly.com
- TROOPERS27, Heidelberg, Germany, 21–25 June 2027 (trainings 21–22 June, conference 23–25 June): a respected technical security conference. troopers.de
- DEF CON 35, Las Vegas Convention Center, 5–8 August 2027 (Announced; we could not open the official site): the biggest hacker convention, good for talent and credibility.
- Women4Cyber Annual Cybersecurity Conference, Brussels, September 2027 (exact days not published yet): Europe's main women-in-cyber gathering, with about 300 attendees. women4cyber.eu
- Nullcon Goa, India, conference 27–28 February 2027 (trainings 24–26 February): an offensive security conference with a CxO track. nullcon.net
Dates not announced yet
- it-sa Expo&Congress, Nuremberg: the 2026 edition is on 27–29 October 2026; 2027 dates are not out. Germany's biggest security fair, with a startup area.
- Cyber Security Nordic, Helsinki: 28–29 October 2026, with a startup pitch; 2027 dates are not out.
- European Cyber Week, Rennes: 16–19 November 2026; 2027 dates are not out.
- Black Hat MEA, Riyadh: 1–3 December 2026, with the CyberSeed startup competition; 2027 dates are not out.
- Black Hat Europe, London: 7–10 December 2026; 2027 dates are not out.
- Les Assises de la cybersécurité, Monaco: the 2026 edition was on 7–10 October 2026; 2027 dates are not out.
- Cyber Week, Tel Aviv University: last held in June 2026; 2027 dates are not out.
- Cyber accelerator demo days (Cyber Runway, Hub8, NCSC for Startups, Team8): no 2027 dates published yet.
Why these events matter: cybersecurity startups in numbers
- Investors put $18 billion into seed- to growth-stage rounds for security and privacy companies in 2025, about 26% more than in 2024, according to Crunchbase.
- Women make up 22% of security teams on average, according to ISC2.
- Of 654 cybersecurity startups that raised venture funding in 2020 and 2021, only 22 (3.3%) had a female CEO, according to a NopSec analysis reported by CPO Magazine. The data is a few years old, but no newer count exists.
Building in security? Read our overview of cybersecurity startup trends and opportunities and our list of affordable cybersecurity tools for startups.
How to choose the right cybersecurity event
- Pitch where the prize is real. RSAC's Innovation Sandbox ($5 million SAFE for each finalist) and the free INCYBER Startup Awards are the two strongest pitch stages of the year.
- Go where your buyers are. Public sector: CYBERUK, ONE Conference, Cybersec Europe and INCYBER. Enterprise CISOs: RSAC and Infosecurity Europe. Gulf buyers: GISEC GLOBAL.
- Use free or startup passes. GISEC GLOBAL has a free visitor pass and Infosecurity Europe has Cyber Startup Passes. Watch deadlines: Cybertech's free pass ended on 18 October 2026.
- Mind the long sales cycle. Security deals take months, so book meetings before the event and plan a follow-up for each one.
- Use the women-in-cyber networks. WiCyS, Women4Cyber and Infosecurity Europe's Women in Cybersecurity event are good places to find co-founders, hires and mentors. See more startup competitions with prize money.
List your event
Do you organise a cybersecurity conference, a security startup pitch or an accelerator demo day? Send us the name, dates, city and official link, and we'll check whether it fits this list.
This article is regularly updated with new events. Do you know about an event that needs to be added? Send us some info and we will see if it's a fit.
🔗 Add an awesome event
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FAQ
What are the best cybersecurity events for startups in 2027?
Our top picks are Forum INCYBER Europe in Lille, Infosecurity Europe in London, CYBERUK in Liverpool, Cybersec Europe in Brussels, CYSAT Paris, the ONE Conference in The Hague, RSAC in San Francisco, Cybertech Global TLV, GISEC GLOBAL in Dubai and WiCyS.
When is RSAC 2027?
The RSAC 2027 Conference is on 5–8 April 2027 in San Francisco. Innovation Sandbox submissions open on 1 December 2026.
What do RSAC Innovation Sandbox finalists get?
Each of the Top 10 finalists receives a $5 million uncapped SAFE investment, and the winner is named Most Innovative Startup 2027.
When is Infosecurity Europe 2027?
On 8–10 June 2027 at ExCeL London, with a Cyber Startup Programme that includes a startup zone, an award and investor networking.
Is there a free cybersecurity startup competition in Europe?
Yes. The INCYBER Startup Awards are free to enter. Applications close on 7 December 2026, and the award ceremony is at Forum INCYBER Europe in Lille on 9 March 2027.
Which cybersecurity events focus on women?
WiCyS 2027 (17–19 March, Denver area), the Women4Cyber Annual Conference (September 2027, Brussels) and the Women in Cybersecurity event at Infosecurity Europe.
How much venture capital goes to cybersecurity startups?
Investors put $18 billion into security and privacy startups in 2025, about 26% more than in 2024, according to Crunchbase.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
