Maven Capital Partners has invested £1.5 million in Blueskytec, a cybersecurity hardware specialist, through the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund.
Blueskytec develops high-grade, hardware-based cyber protection designed for mission-critical systems in sectors such as defence, civil nuclear and energy. Its patented technology offers a unique layer of security that the company says is unavailable from conventional software-only solutions, and is already deployed by industrial and government clients in the UK and US.
The funding will support Blueskytec’s expansion as it moves towards full-scale deployment with leading industrial partners. The company plans to recruit additional staff, boost manufacturing capacity and scale its business development activities.
The investment comes amid growing regulatory pressure to improve cyber resilience across critical national infrastructure and rising threats from sophisticated cyber attackers. Operational technology – the systems controlling industrial processes – often falls outside the scope of traditional IT security measures. Blueskytec’s solution is designed to integrate with existing infrastructure while addressing these specific vulnerabilities.
Rafi Khan, investment manager at Maven, said: “Blueskytec has developed a cybersecurity solution that addresses a critical gap in the market, particularly for infrastructure and operational technology systems. Given the rapidly expanding threat landscape and the regulatory imperative for enhanced cyber assurance, the addressable market for the company’s solution is large and growing.”
Blueskytec CEO Chris Mobley said Maven had “clearly seen the full potential” of its technology.
“We look forward to a strong collaborative relationship as we enter the next stage of our exciting journey,” he added.
Lizzy Upton, senior investment manager at the British Business Bank, said: “Cyber resilience is a critical priority for businesses and organisations across all sectors. Blueskytec is at the forefront of developing next-generation hardware security designed to protect sensitive infrastructure and we are delighted the South West Investment Fund is able to support their growth ambitions.”
The South West Investment Fund aims to drive economic growth in the region by backing innovative businesses. It provides commercial finance ranging from smaller loans of £25,000 to £100,000, debt finance from £100,000 to £2 million, and equity investment of up to £5 million.