We are excited to announce that we have raised €500,000 in pre-seed funding to further develop and commercially scale up the first European platform dedicated to automating compliance activities. The funding round is led by the Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij and the Rabobank. In addition, the Starterslift and the municipal data- and ICT startersfund of the Bossche Investerings Maatschappij participated.

Compliance Automation

Many tech startups create software applications for organisations that process sensitive and/or critical (personal) data, such as hospitals, government agencies, financial service providers, and telecom providers. In recent years it has been generally accepted that ISO27001, SOC2 and various other sector-specific certifications demonstrate that you have your information security in order. In many cases this is now a prerequisite for selling to larger customers.

However, the process of meeting - and continuing to meet - these standards is a huge drain on the often limited resources of startups and scaleups. For example, they must provide insight into their own software, the software with which their own software is built, and the processes they use for things such as screening employees and managing access rights. This costs them months, tens of thousands of euros, and an endless exchange of screenshots and other documentation with consultants and auditors.

We are all using more and more cloud tools and exchanging data with each other automatically. But who knows all the 700 security settings of Microsoft Azure? Then give your customers the confidence that you manage their data safely. Tidal Control bridges the gap by continuously monitoring all your tools. - Dennis van de Wiel, co-founder of Tidal Control.

Always being ready to explain

Tidal Control’s software guides the organisation through the process. Going through these steps is largely automated up to and including continuous monitoring to remain compliant. The use of the platform is guaranteed to lead to certification. The software is already being used from early-stage startups to companies with 2,000 employees to monitor their information security in real-time.

The growing dependence on digital systems and the rise of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence increase the risk of cyber attacks and data breaches. And this throughout the chain, from startup to enterprise. We believe that setting up and monitoring IT security mechanisms will become a ’license to operate’. Tidal Control has the potential to become the fundamental infrastructure for this - Robin Hendrickx, investment manager of BOM.

About Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij

Entrepreneurship is the driver for innovation. From sustainable food, a healthy future, climate-neutral energy to the development of promising key technologies.The Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM) ensures that start-ups that contribute to this get off to a flying start with the right support and financing. They also ensure that companies with international ambitions can realise them. Every year, the BOM achieves impact together with dozens of companies. The BOM is an executive agency of the Province of North Brabant and the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate.

For more information, visit www.bom.nl

About Rabobank Innovation Fund

The mission of the Rabobank Innovation Fund (IFR) is to stimulate an innovative and sustainable Netherlands. With a Rabo Innovation Loan, Dutch starting entrepreneurs with a good innovative idea that contributes to the digitalisation and/or sustainability and/or vitalisation of society are given the opportunity to further develop their plans. Rabobank reserves an amount every year to support entrepreneurs in the early stages of their lives.

For more information, visit www.rabobank.nl

About Bossche Investerings Maatschappij

The Bossche Investerings Maatschappij (BIM) is a public investment company in Northeast Brabant. The BIM stimulates economic activity and actively contributes to strengthening the economic structure in the ’s-Hertogenbosch region. It does this by actively connecting entrepreneurs in the form of themed communities such as De Gruyter Fabriek, Jamfabriek and Grasso. In addition, the BIM develops programs based on the pillars of housing, participating, connecting and supporting, in which companies, educational institutions and governments work together around an economic theme. All with the ambition to put ’s-Hertogenbosch and the region on the map as one of the most attractive business locations in the Netherlands.

For more information, visit www.nvbim.nl

About Starterslift investments

Starterslift Investments has been offering pre-seed investment to startups from the province of North Brabant since 2006. It was made possible by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, the Province of North Brabant, the municipality of Breda and the municipality of Tilburg.

For more information, visit www.starterslift.nl/

- Written by Dennis van de Wiel, Founder