8Layers, a Madrid-based cybersecurity company focused on digital identity security and regulatory compliance, has extended its pre-Seed funding round by €1 million, bringing its total capital raised to €2.5 million.
The additional funding came from strategic investors Criteria Venture Tech and Bankinter, both of whom are joining the company at a critical moment in its commercial journey. The investment marks a significant endorsement from within Spain’s financial services sector, as the company transitions from development to market deployment.
Commercial Launch and Market Timing
Founded in 2024, 8Layers has moved quickly from inception to commercial availability, with the platform now actively serving clients. The company’s focus on digital identity security positions it within a growing area of concern for European enterprises, particularly as regulatory requirements around data protection and identity verification continue to tighten across the continent.
According to Daniel García Morán, the company’s leadership, the backing from established financial institutions carries particular weight. “We have just launched the platform commercially, and we are very proud to welcome two strategic partners who know first-hand the problem we solve. Their entry is not just an investment: it is confirmation, from within the financial sector itself, that digital identity security is now a top-level priority,” García Morán stated.
The involvement of Bankinter, a major Spanish financial institution, suggests that 8Layers’ solutions address genuine pain points within the banking sector—a field heavily regulated and increasingly targeted by identity-related threats.
Growth and Market Expansion
The extended pre-Seed round will enable 8Layers to strengthen its go-to-market strategy and accelerate commercialisation efforts across the European market. Rather than focusing solely on Spain, the company is positioning itself for broader continental expansion, a strategy that aligns with the interconnected nature of European regulatory frameworks and the continent’s increasingly harmonised approach to cybersecurity standards.
Criteria Venture Tech’s participation reflects growing investor interest in cybersecurity solutions that address compliance challenges while managing the practical realities of digital identity verification in a regulated environment.
European Context
The funding comes at a time when European startups in the cybersecurity sector are attracting sustained investor attention. The combination of stringent regulatory requirements—including frameworks such as eIDAS and emerging digital identity standards—and rising security threats has created a compelling market opportunity for focused solutions providers.
8Layers enters a competitive but expanding market where European companies increasingly seek homegrown alternatives to global providers, often for reasons related to data residency, regulatory alignment, and local support requirements. The company’s Spanish origins and focus on European commercialisation position it to capture this demand.