Leeds cybersecurity firm Xentra raises £2.7m to drive expansion

Digital security firm Xentra, based in Leeds, has secured a £2.7 million growth capital investment from Maven Capital Partners.

Advising on the deal was K3 Deal Advisory, which worked alongside Xentra’s management and shareholders to structure the transaction. The investment team was headed by Katie Horsfield, associate director at K3 Deal Advisory, with director Chris Collins and manager Tom Kennedy.

Xentra supplies subscription-based cybersecurity, safeguarding and compliance services to more than 90 client organisations. Its customer portfolio includes Leeds United Football Club, Leeds Bradford Airport, Vista Technology Support and JT Atkinson.

The business plans to use the capital to recruit additional staff, create jobs across the Leeds region, and fund further developments to its technical products and service operations.

Katie Horsfield, associate director at K3 Deal Advisory, said: “Having advised a number of technology and cyber businesses, we recognized the strength of Xentra’s proposition from the outset. This is underpinned by a highly experienced management team and a clear vision for growth. It has been a pleasure to work alongside the Xentra team on this transaction.”

Henry Doyle, chief executive of Xentra, said: “This investment marks an exciting milestone for Xentra as we continue to build a leading digital security business from Leeds. Maven’s backing gives us the platform to accelerate our growth strategy, invest further in our people and capabilities, and create high-quality jobs in the region.”

In an official transaction announcement published by investor Maven Capital Partners, details revealed that funding was structured through Maven VCTs alongside NPIF II – Maven Equity Finance, part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II. The announcement notes that Xentra quadrupled its annual recurring revenue over the preceding two years, providing institutional investors with the commercial performance data needed to back its planned expansion into managed cybersecurity tools.