Verdane, a European specialist growth investment firm, has announced a strategic partnership with Guardsquare, a leader in mobile application security. This collaboration, which follows a prior investment from Battery Ventures, aims to address increasing mobile app security threats by expanding global access to Guardsquare’s mobile application protection solutions. The partnership seeks to integrate Guardsquare’s technical expertise with Verdane’s growth strategy, focusing on both organic expansion and potential mergers and acquisitions.
Mobile applications have become primary interfaces for user interaction with businesses, yet mobile app security has remained a less-served area, particularly as threat actors intensify their targeting of these platforms. Verdane’s investment is intended to enable Guardsquare to broaden its market presence, offering its comprehensive mobile application security approach that emphasizes high-level protection and ease of implementation. Earlier this year, Cyber Defense Magazine recognized Guardsquare as a market leader in Mobile App Security, bestowing upon it a prestigious Mobile App Security Award.
Roel Caers, CEO of Guardsquare, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “It marks an inspiring and well-aligned progression toward our long-term vision. We will benefit from [Verdane’s] expertise as, together, we take Guardsquare to the next level, significantly expand our market share, and increase our global reach through organic growth, ongoing product enhancements, and M&A.” Caers also acknowledged Battery Ventures’ support in scaling the business globally and attracting talent, especially in the U.S.
Morten Weicher, Partner at Verdane, commented on the significance of Guardsquare’s technology: “Guardsquare’s industry-leading mobile application protection is a critical cybersecurity service, and we’re excited to partner with Roel and the entire Guardsquare team to make this available for even more businesses globally. The company’s growth from a European to a global leader has been very impressive to behold, and we’re looking forward to supporting the company in its future journey.” Dharmesh Thakker, Partner at Battery Ventures, added, “It has been a privilege to partner with the Guardsquare team and support the company’s growth journey. As it scaled its business, Guardsquare has consistently demonstrated its commitment to innovation and leadership in mobile application security. We are confident that this new partnership with Verdane will open up many new growth opportunities and allow Guardsquare to continue to help set the standard for mobile application security worldwide.”
Guardsquare, based in Leuven, Belgium, offers a complete approach to mobile application security, integrating its software across the development cycle from app security testing to code hardening and real-time threat visibility. More than 900 organizations across various industries utilize Guardsquare to protect their mobile applications and SDKs against reverse engineering and tampering. Verdane, with over €8 billion in assets under management and offices across Europe including Berlin, Munich, and Stockholm, focuses on partnering with tech-enabled and sustainable European businesses, having made over 200 investments since 2003. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.
