Rhebo supports automation companies and critical infrastructures in ensuring process continuity and cyber security in their industrial control systems (ICS) as well as network control technology. In its second financing round, the Leipzig-based technology company, founded in 2014, will receive a seven-digit sum from the existing investors eCAPITAL AG and Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen as well as the new investors SHS Ventures GmbH and VNG Innovation. In 2016, eCAPITAL AG and Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen had already confirmed Rhebo’s innovative business model and portfolio with an investment of 2.5 million euros.
“The investment in Rhebo fits into our strategy of further developing as technology leaders. Digitisation and IIoT have long since found their way into the Saarland steel industry and have become indispensable. Of course, cybersecurity is playing an increasingly important role. This applies to the digital transformation in our companies as well as to the entire manufacturing industry”, Dr. Michael Müller, CEO of SHS – Stahl-Holding-Saar GmbH & Co.KGaA, explains the engagement.
“We are delighted to be involved with Rhebo, an innovative Leipzig start-up company that has recognised the signs of the times,” adds Andreas Franke, managing director of VNG Innovation GmbH. “The threat to information and communication technology systems of digital infrastructures, such as in energy supply or industry, is increasing. Attacks not only endanger the security of supply to the general public, but also efficient production processes.
In the gas industry, production facilities, storage facilities, transmission networks and gas distribution networks must be protected against attacks as well. As a German technology company, Rhebo is committed to reliably protecting digital networks against cyberattacks. We see great potential here at Rhebo to make the information and communication technologies of municipal utilities, grid operators and industrial companies, among others, more secure,” Franke continues.
Rhebo has repeatedly demonstrated the effectiveness of its industrial anomaly detection in various projects in the automation, automotive and critical infrastructure sectors to ensure the continuity and cybersecurity of ICS and network control systems. Last year, the renowned New York-based analyst firm Gartner Inc. named the company as on of the top providers in its global.
Strong partners in a highly competitive market
“With VNG Innovation and SHS Ventures, we join forces with two strong strategic partners who are well established in our core markets of critical infrastructure and the automation industry, says Klaus Mochalski, CEO of Rhebo, explaining the decision for the investment partners.
This enables us to increase Rhebo’s healthy growth of recent years and further develop our technology in line with the increasing demands placed on industrial control systems. The need for new solutions enabling a seamless network monitoring of ICS for technical problems and covert cyberattacks has clearly increased, not least due to the German IT Security Bill and the increasing networking of production facilities.
This is also clearly demonstrated by the continuation of the investment by our initial investors eCAPITAL AG and Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen, which have held stakes in Rhebo since 2016.”
Reinforcement of the management of Rhebo
In the course of Rhebo’s further market penetration, the management appointed Kristin Preßler as chief of operations (COO) at the beginning of the year. The shareholders are thus reacting to Rhebo’s rapid growth and the further expansion of the company’s activities.
Kristin Preßler has established the marketing and communication department within the company and, as COO, will now take over responsibility for the operational implementation of Rhebo’s strategy alongside CEO Klaus Mochalski. She has over ten years of experience in the strategic development of communication and marketing in IT companies. Kristin Preßler studied communication sciences in Leipzig and France and is a trained publishing clerk.
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