Telefónica, via Telefónica Tech Ventures, its new vehicle for investment in cybersecurity startups, has made an investment in Smart Protection, a Spanish startup that protects brands against counterfeiting on the internet.
To do so, it has a platform that automatically detects and eliminates counterfeit products and unauthorised uses on the Internet. Founded in 2015, the company has customers in more than 25 countries and obtains more than 75% of its revenues outside Spain.
Smart Protection has already obtained more than 20 million euros in funding with this round, positioning it among the top five cybersecurity startups in Spain in terms of their ability to raise money.
This investment in Smart Protection comes after Telefónica’s recent investment in Nozomi Networks, the company that specializes in security and industrial control systems. Telefónica’s close relationship with cybersecurity startups has also been reflected in Telefónica Tech’s recent acquisitions of Govertis, the company specializing in cybersecurity consultancy, and iHackLabs, which specializes in training and educating professionals in cybersecurity.
Pedro Pablo Pérez, CEO of ElevenPaths, Telefónica Tech’s cybersecurity company
This is an excellent example of how Telefónica Tech can boost the cybersecurity entrepreneurial ecosystem as an investor, customer and strategic partner, enabling us to drive business and ensure it reaches our customers in a distinctive way.
Guenia Gawendo, director of Telefónica Tech Ventures
This new investment once again highlights our commitment to technologies and solutions that strengthen our core and strategic business while providing an opportunity for a company like Smart Protection to scale and drive its business through our worldwide customer network.
