Spanish start-up Barbara IoT, creator of a cyber-secure operating system for the IoT, has closed a €500,000 investment round.

Four years old, and founded by the same team that in 2013 created Blackphone, the world’s first cyber-secure Android phone, Barbara IoT has positioned itself as one of the most promising start-ups in the IoT and cyber-security area, and aspires to lead the global market with a cyber-secure operating system for connected industries.

The secure Barbara OS operating system protects devices connected to the internet in industrial plants from cyber attacks and facilitates their deployment and management, thus helping the secure digitisation of the sector.

The round was led by Global Omnium through its corporate venturing vehicle GoHub Ventures, and was supported by seed capital funds of the Diputación de Bizkaia and the Basque Fondo, a management company of venture capital entities belonging to the SPRI of the Basque government.

The capital inflow into Barbara IoT will help the commercial expansion of the company, with the creation of a centre of excellence for energy and Industry 4.0 in Bilbao, thanks to the support of the Diputación de Bizkaia and support in the management of the SPRI of the Basque government. Another centre of excellence in Valencia will focus on utilities and the public sector.

All this is with the aim of preparing the company for its international jump at the end of 2021.

The round closes after the firm’s successful passage through the GoHub accelerator programme. The start-up has managed to attract large clients in markets where business continuity is critical, such as EDP and Grupo Cuerva in renewable energies and industrial logistics, Idrica and Bomberos de Bizkaia for public services and supplies, and Cellnex in telecommunications.

David Purón, CEO and co-founder of Barbara IoT, said: “After four years of strong investment in innovation and product, this new phase with the support of new partners will allow us to reach more companies and help reduce cyber-security risks associated with the digitisation of their assets.”