UK vs US Investors: Why we're losing the Cyber & AI Race

Why do brilliant UK deeptech and cybersecurity startups struggle to scale, while their US counterparts secure multi-million-pound rounds with ease? For academic founders and technical innovators, bridging the gap between a breakthrough research project and a commercial enterprise solution is the hardest hurdle they will face. In this special International Cyber Expo edition, we break down the brutal reality of the UK investment landscape. If you are an early-stage founder trying to navigate enterprise procurement, or a CISO looking for genuine innovation outside the usual tier-1 vendors, this episode unpacks exactly where the friction lies and how to bypass it. Join Jay Adamson and Warren Atkinson as they sit down with Dr. Emma Fadlon from Innovate UK Business Connect. Drawing on a decade of data and over £50m in leveraged investment from the CyberASAP programme, we explore the stark contrast in risk appetite between UK and US investors, the ego-check academic founders face when entering the commercial market, and the uncomfortable truths about why large enterprises are terrified to back early-stage technology. ⏱️ Chapters: • 00:00 - The UK’s Deeptech Crisis: Why We’re Losing the Cyber & AI Race • 01:59 - Inside CyberASAP: The Engine Building UK Cyber Spin-Outs • 03:56 - Untapped Talent: Why CISOs & Enterprises Must Look to Academia • 05:02 - License or Launch? The Brutal Choice Facing Academic Founders • 05:26 - The 10-Year Sacrifice: The Hidden Personal Cost of Tech Innovation • 11:23 - The Academic Ego-Check: Surviving Messy Enterprise Procurement • 23:51 - Escaping the Lab: Validating Cyber Tech in Corporate Sandboxes • 25:51 - RSA Conference Insights: The Stark Reality of UK vs US Risk Appetite • 39:54 - The Language of Funding: How to Pitch Cybersecurity to Mainstream Investors • 55:17 - AI & Automation: Does Cybersecurity Still Excite Investors Today? • 01:01:28 - The Global Drain: Why UK Cyber Funding is Fleeing to Singapore & the UAE About Our Guest, Dr. Emma Fadlon: As the Investment Projects Lead at Innovate UK Business Connect, Emma supports a range of angel and VC investor-focussed capacity-building programmes, primarily for early-stage technologies up to Series A. Since 2015, she has designed and delivered commercialisation activities to support the UK’s wider innovation strategy. Alongside her role as Co-Director of the DCMS-funded CyberASAP accelerator, Emma brings a wealth of cross-sector commercialisation expertise to the cybersecurity landscape. With a PhD in tumour immunology, her technical background encompasses health applications, diagnostics, and medical devices. She has previously served as Head of Business Development at the Pirbright Institute and is currently a director of the Southern Angels Investor Club (SAIC). Learn more about Innovate UK Business Connect & CyberASAP: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/ 🎙️ Catch us LIVE at the International Cyber Expo! We will be recording live on the floor at Olympia London on the 29th and 30th of September. Come challenge the norm and speak with us at Stand K62. Secure your VIP ticket for the International Cyber Expo here: https://forms.reg.buzz/international-cyber-expo-splash-2026/ice-partner-secure-cyber-connect Connect With: Warren here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/warren-atkinson Jay here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinadamson/ Free guides, tools and resources: https://link.v1ce.co/warrenatkinson 🔔 We appreciate your support - Please SUBSCRIBE, LIKE + SHARE to empower others.