Japan-based cybersecurity software producer Blue Planet-works secured ¥2.3bn ($21.7m) over the course of this year, from investors including SmartValue, DRS, Uchida Yoko, Mori Trust and Taiyo Oil, it revealed on Monday.
Cloud technology provider SmartValue’s JJP Fund I contributed to the round in January while leasing services firm DRS, office supplies producer Uchida Yoko, real estate developer Mori Trust and petroleum supplier Taiyo Oil made their commitments in July and August.
Blue Planet-works is the developer of an endpoint security platform called AppGuard which utilises isolation technology – which it claims has been used by US government agencies for some 20 years – to protect networks.
The company has also created Trustica, a mobile identity authentication system linked to an internet-of-things (IoT) app that lets users control their smart homes and cars as well as, hypothetically, smart systems in public spaces.
DRS has added cybersecurity tools based on AppGuard to its product range following its investment, while SmartValue has integrated Trustica into its connected car platform, Kuruma Base.
The round increased Blue Planet-works’ overall funding to about $125m, the earlier funding coming from rounds of undisclosed size in April and August 2017. Travel services provider JTB, entertainment distribution service Faith and entertainment group Yoshimoto Kogyo backed the former.
The August round included aviation group ANA Holdings, insurers Dai-ichi Life and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa, office equipment provider Daiko Denshi Tsushin, marketing group Dentsu and IT services firms Information Services International-Dentsu and PCI Holdings.
