WISeKey
Route de Pré-Bois 29, Geneva, 1215, Switzerland
Overview
WISeKey is a global cybersecurity company currently deploying large scale digital identity ecosystems with a patented process. WISeKey’s Swiss-based cryptographic Root of Trust (“RoT”) provides secure authentication and identification in both physical and virtual environments for the Internet of Things, Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence. The WISeKey RoT serves as a common trust anchor to ensure the integrity of online transactions among objects and between objects and people. Their integrated vertical trusted platform combines a range of chips with software applications that cater to their customers’ security and business needs. The software includes proprietary technology developed by the company such as, RoT and Public Key Infrastructure (“PKI”). These technologies are offered as part of standalone products, as well as on the fully integrated Vertical Trusted Platform that enables WISeKey clients to manage their digital identity, information, and communications in a seamless process housed by complementary technology and products. They enable their clients to adapt to a changing device landscape without compromising their digital security. The rapid growth and proliferation of internet based devices, as well as people’s dependence on them for personal and business needs, precipitated the connectivity of digital devices. However, such connectivity creates numerous opportunities to alter or manipulate digital footprints. They believe that their integrated products provide the most comprehensive solution to these gaps in cybersecurity and data protection. The core of WISeKey’s Vertical Trusted Platform is based on their Cybersecurity SaaS business, also known as managed PKI services, and on their Semiconductor chips.
- Total investments
- 1
- Lead investments
- 1
- Investments · 12mo
- 0
- Active investors
- 8
Sector focus
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Blockchain
- Cyber Security
- Identity Management
- Internet of Things
- Network Security
- SaaS
- Software
Investment portfolio
- Arago
Led · Convertible Note · Aug 2020
arago GmbH, acquired by WISeKey in early 2021, provides Artificial Intelligence services to enterprise customers via Knowledge Automation. The company is rolling out TrusteCoin as the payment and KYC mechanism for the WISe.ART ecosystem, which creates white‑label marketplaces and promotes high‑value luxury collectibles and artwork. WISe.ART taps into the Ethereum ecosystem for liquidity and uses CasperLabs and Ocean Protocol for permanent storage and market logic. TrusteCoin and the platform aim to enable traceable provenance, authenticity, anti‑counterfeiting and to link digital NFTs with physical objects via WISeKey’s secure‑element chip technology. The stated objective for TrusteCoin is to become a major name in DeFi by enabling collectors, owners, experts and crypto investors to profit from trusted NFTs. The platform launch was planned for July 4, 2021, with a staged pre‑sale of TrusteCoin. ARAGO is a German privately held technology company founded in Frankfurt am Main in 1995 that delivers artificial intelligence and knowledge-automation solutions to enterprise customers. Its core product is the HIRO™ problem-solving engine and a knowledge core that combines inference and machine learning to capture human expertise and handle semantic, time-series and blob data at petabyte scale. ARAGO provides a microservice environment, an API layer and an oAuth-based identity to enable scalable, secure deployment of individualized services and fine-grained access control. The platform is positioned for large-scale IoT and AI convergence, supporting auto-scaling 24/7 operation and simplifying development of enterprise use cases. ARAGO’s technology is intended to be integrated into joint solutions such as the WISeData.CH JV to deliver secure AI cloud services and accelerate digital transformation in industrial processes. Financially, WISeKey invested USD 5.5 million for a 5% stake via a convertible loan based on a USD 110 million valuation, with the loan to be paid in five instalments. arago AG is a German specialist in IT automation, founded in Frankfurt am Main in 1995 and managed by founders Chris Boos and Dr. Bernhard Walther. Its core product, AutoPilot, is a knowledge-based automation platform developed over the last eight years that combines multiple technologies and high-performance algorithms. AutoPilot enables automation of entire IT stacks, including heterogeneous environments and individual applications, by applying reusable knowledge modules and can enable automation rates of up to almost 90 percent. The platform is used by large corporations with complex IT systems such as banks, telecommunications companies, IT service providers and outsourcers. Gartner named arago a “Cool Vendor in IT Operations 2014,” reflecting industry recognition. KKR will support arago’s global expansion with primary capital following the minority investment; the terms of the transaction were not disclosed.