Northstar Ventures has backed Sunderland-based OneClickComply® (formerly FAT32) with a £275,000 follow-on investment through the Venture Sunderland Fund.
The funding forms part of a £580,000 round that also includes angel investors and a significant grant from Innovate UK’s North East investor partnership programme.
OneClickComply®, which specialises in cyber security and regulatory compliance, is targeting the rapidly growing information security market, expected to be worth £16bn in the UK by 2029. The market is being driven by increasingly sophisticated cyber threats – including recent high-profile incidents at M&S and Royal Mail – and the growing need for compliance with standards such as ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials and SOC 2.
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Unlike traditional solutions that only identify gaps, OneClickComply®’s platform auto-implements recommendations with a single click. Its Trust Centre also allows auditors and customers to access compliance information in real time, saving time and reducing the need for costly external consultants.
In addition to its core compliance automation features, the platform offers a suite of integrated cyber security tools including continuous threat monitoring, vulnerability management, and vendor risk management.
Tom O’Neill, Investment Manager at Northstar Ventures, said: “We’re delighted to support OneClickComply®’s further growth with this additional investment. Their innovative solution to automate regulatory and cyber security compliance provides a cost-effective and accessible solution to customers that are increasingly aware of the risks of non-compliance. This investment will also support the generation of high-quality jobs in Sunderland’s burgeoning cyber security cluster, which is a key priority for us at Northstar Ventures.”
Connor Greig, CEO and Co-founder of OneClickComply®, added: “We are proud to announce that OneClickComply has now secured over £1.2m in investment, including this most recent follow-on funding. This significant milestone will allow us to deepen our roots in Sunderland by investing directly into the local economy and actively expanding our team with highly skilled professionals.
“Addressing the ongoing cyber security skills shortage remains a central focus for us, and these funds will enable the creation of new roles that are vital in countering the industry-wide talent crisis.”
He added: “Our mission remains to empower organisations of every size with sophisticated yet accessible cyber security solutions, giving them the confidence to protect their operations in an increasingly complex threat landscape. By investing in both people and innovation here in the North East, we aim to establish OneClickComply and Sunderland as catalysts for positive change within the broader cyber security sector.”
Lewis Atkinson, MP for Sunderland Central, said: “This investment is a powerful vote of confidence in Sunderland’s growing reputation as a hub for digital innovation and enterprise. OneClickComply® is a fantastic example of the kind of forward-thinking, high-impact business that can thrive here.
“When I visited the team, I was genuinely impressed by Connor’s vision and the ambition behind the company’s work. It’s great to see skilled jobs being created in our city and a Sunderland business leading the charge in such a vital sector of our economy.”
Danielle Phillips, CEO of CyberNorth, added: “OneClickComply® was part of our first CyberNorth innovation centre cohort, and it’s been fantastic to be part of their startup and growth story. Watching businesses like them grow and develop is the reason we launched the innovation centre – as a way to nurture regional cyber talent and create more sustainable organisations.
“Having innovative businesses like this and determined entrepreneurs in the North East community is vital to the growth and sustainability of our regional economy, and we hope OneClickComply® continues to develop and encourage other innovative cyber businesses that we know we have in our community.”
