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Cybersecurity company secures prestigious US angel funding

UK start-up Goldilock has developed a product it says is groundbreaking in the fight against cyberattacks

The $1.7 million seed round is a vote of confidence in Goldilock’s patented, non-IP controlled hardware approach to cybersecurity, the company says
The $1.7 million seed round is a vote of confidence in Goldilock’s patented, non-IP controlled hardware approach to cybersecurity, the company says

A relatively new British company, already regarded as a top cybersecurity innovator, has attracted investment from two well-known US angel investors. Goldilock said it secured funding and support from members of Harvard Business School Alumni Angels of Greater NY (HBSAANY) and New York Angels (NYA).

The company described the $1.7 million (€1.59 million) seed round as a significant vote of confidence in its patented, non-IP-controlled hardware approach to cybersecurity.

Goldilock said its Drawbridge product “is based on the premise that the only thing truly safe on the internet, paradoxically, is something not on the internet”.

“This means delivering physical connection and disconnection of assets fast and conveniently, in a manner not controlled over the internet – a kill-switch or isolator to help organisations mitigate and contain cyberattacks.”

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New York Angels is one of the world’s largest and most active single-chapter angel groups. Its members have invested more than €160 million into more than 300 companies. Harvard Business School Alumni Angels of Greater New York, founded in 2011, is the largest angel network in New York, with more than 350 members and growing.

HBSAANY provides early-stage companies with investment and mentorship; members have invested more than $28 million across more than 130 early-stage companies. It is part of a global HBS Alumni Angels network with chapters on four continents.

Since its inception in 2020 Goldilock’s upward trajectory has been swift. After establishing R&D facilities two years ago the company underwent incubation via the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre’s joint NCSC for start-ups programme with Plexal.

It was named by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre as one of five start-ups chosen to help address the persistent threat of ransomware attacks.

As a member of both investor groups, Tom Hirschfeld commented: “In an increasingly dangerous and digital world, the cyber commands of countries such as the US, UK and Singapore are recommending or requiring that critical national infrastructure be kept physically offline whenever possible. Simultaneously, companies with sensitive digital assets need the ability to isolate those assets instantly at the first sign of a network intrusion.”

Goldilock’s Drawbridge technology claims to delivers an unbreakable hardware-based cyber defence solution.

“Goldilock’s Drawbridge is a critical enhancement to any network’s security. It empowers organisations to respond to cyber threats immediately, remotely and without using the internet,” company CEO and Founder Tony Hasek said.

“By enabling rapid and true physical containment of attacks, Drawbridge protects critical assets – be they systems or data – mitigates operational disruptions and ensures compliance, while enhancing cybersecurity posture and resilience.”

Goldilock is dedicating the proceeds of this financing round to sales and marketing of already commercially available products, with an emphasis on building a top-tier worldwide managed security service provider partner and security vendor channel network.