Sheffield tech company eyes global expansion following seven-figure funding

Sitehop, a Sheffield based technology company has released its flagship product, the SAFE100, which is setting new standards for the cyber security industry. This follows an initial round of investment from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF).

Melissa Chambers and Ben Harper founded Sitehop at the end of 2021 and, after securing the investment, created the first of its kind encryption product. It offers the world’s lowest latency 100 Gbps network encryption designed for the telecommunications, financial, and datacentre industries.

The investment facilitated the purchase of capital equipment and infrastructure as well as bringing on additional engineers. All were required to build the complex set of systems and skills to create a product designed for the world’s largest data companies.

Unique to other providers, SAFE100 offers a self-contained appliance that offers quantum resistant cryptography whilst also allowing for simple deployment in complex networks. Sitehop is currently testing cutting edge post quantum cryptography (PQC).

The ‘industry leading’ solution, accelerated through the NPIF-Mercia investment, has been recognised on an international scale, seeing Sitehop selected as one of six top cyber startups in the UK through the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s (DSIT) Cyber Runway Ignite program.

Co-founders Melissa and Ben first met at a previous company, where they decided to use their unique skill sets to develop and bring this new solution to the market.

It is now one of the few startups to hold International Standard Organization (ISO) certifications for quality systems, environmental responsibility and data security, showcasing its commitment to quality, environmental management and security.

Sitehop has already performed customer tests globally and is looking to push further into the Americas, creating a presence in both the US and Brazil. This supports plans for global deployment, with the first covering areas of Northern Europe, the US, India and Brazil.

More locally, Sitehop has plans to partner with local Northern universities to invest in graduate recruitment, allowing for retained growth and expertise within the business.

Melissa Chambers, CEO and cofounder, commented: “Business is about making connections and having a great product, and NPIF has helped us with both. The Fund’s continued support through inclusion in its online publicity and at trade shows has helped profile Sitehop as well as attract a wider focus on Sheffield as an area for investment too.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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