FundraiseJul 8, 2026, 14:03 UTC

8Layers raises €1M extension, lifting pre-Seed total to €2.5M

What's the deal? Madrid-based cybersecurity startup 8Layers has closed a €1 million extension to its pre-Seed round, bringing total funding to €2.5 million. Criteria Venture Tech, the venture arm of CriteriaCaixa, and Bankinter joined as new investors.

Why now? The raise follows a €1.5 million pre-Seed round closed in 2025 and comes just after 8Layers launched its platform commercially in May 2026. It will fund the company's go-to-market strategy and commercial expansion across Europe.

What's the endgame? Founded in 2024, 8Layers protects digital identities — what it calls the leading vector of today's cyberattacks. Its platform combines Identity Security Posture Management, Identity Threat Detection and Response, and automated compliance with European rules including ENS, US$0.51, and ISO 27001.

The founding team — Daniel García Morán, Pedro Palao, Pablo Carretero, and Iago Salgado — brings more than 20 years of experience in scalable systems and cybersecurity. Three were part of the founding team of Devo, a Spanish deep tech unicorn.

The backers' bet: The entry of two financial-sector investors signals demand from banks facing rising credential-based attacks and regulatory pressure. "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," said García Morán, chief executive officer and co-founder.

The signal: The round lands amid steady 2026 funding across European cybersecurity, digital identity, and compliance. Comparable deals include Madrid's Sybol (over €1 million), Zepo Intelligence (€12.8 million), Barcelona's NeuralTrust (€17.2 million), Prague's Wultra (€6.8 million), and France's MokN (€12.9 million) — pointing to sustained investor appetite for identity-focused security infrastructure.