Cyber firm’s growth ambitions boosted by Venture Sunderland Fund: Northstar Ventures

The words compliance and innovation are rarely found in the same sentence.

However, FAT32 is transforming cybersecurity compliance from a lengthy chore into an effortless process, with potential cost savings of up to 70 per cent.

Customers using its flagship OneClickComply® innovation can complete compliance tasks up to 20 times faster than the traditional method of calling in costly external consultants, with the software automating the implementation of major cyber and data security protocols.

It examines customers’ current processes against major compliance standards such as Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001 and GDPR, highlights any areas in which they are deficient, and then offers a highly innovative automated implementation process to resolve any issues.

It is compatible with most major software providers including AWS, Google Cloud and Azure, and provides a clear audit trail for third parties, helping to take the headache out of year end.

FAT32 is offering customers compliance in days rather than months, and in a much more cost-effective way.

The UK cybersecurity market was estimated at £11 billion in 2023, and is expected to almost double to £20 billion by 2029, with growth being driven by increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks and regulatory interventions.

Cybersecurity is becoming a board level matter in many organisations, with the consequences of a breach or non-compliance being substantial.

The founding team of Connor Greig, Conor Sizeland and David Warren share a passion for emerging technologies, and have used their collective experience in software engineering and cybersecurity to create a trailblazing solution.

The founding team are supported by chair Kelvin Harrison, former chair of Sunderland based Clixifix, and advisor Jamie Whitcombe- Jones.

Northstar Ventures’ investment comprises £350,000 from the Venture Sunderland Fund and £200,000 from the North East Innovation Fund, supported by the European Regional Development Fund, alongside angel investors.

The funds will aid development of this groundbreaking software and support the expansion of the team.

The company has ambitious aims to generate highly-skilled jobs in Sunderland, adding to the growth of the cybersecurity cluster in the wider region.

Connor, FAT32 co-founder, says: “We are delighted to be the first investment from the Venture Sunderland Fund.

“We are truly passionate about levelling-up the North East by creating skilled digital jobs in the region, and are thrilled to be working with Northstar Ventures to do just that.

“Cybersecurity is a pressing challenge that affects us all, and keeping on top of it is increasingly difficult due to the ever-evolving threat landscape.

“That’s why we have automated cybersecurity compliance to make it easy and affordable for all businesses.

“Our platform is the first to combine continuous monitoring with automated remediation.

“We highlight non-compliance issues and fix them automatically, helping companies navigate their compliance journey within a click, with no cyber experience required.”

Tom O’Neill, investment manager at Northstar Ventures, adds: “We are very pleased to complete our investment in FAT32.

“This is the first investment from the Venture Sunderland Fund, which has been designed to provide funding for high-potential businesses seeking to start up or grow in the city.

“The FAT32 founding team is impressive and has developed a leading solution to a major problem in the cybersecurity sector, which many business owners will be able to empathise with.

“We are excited to join the company on the next stage of its journey, and look forward to working with them to grow the business at scale.”

Pictured, left to right: Conor Sizeland, FAT32 co-founder and chief technology officer; Kelvin Harrison, FAT32 chair; Tom O’Neill, Northstar Ventures investment manager; Connor Greig, FAT32 co-founder and chief executive; and David Warren, FAT32 co-founder and chief commercial officer.