Sitehop
Hardware-based, quantum-resilient, low-energy encryption system for telecom, financial, and critical-infrastructure networks.
Sitehop builds SAFEseries, a hardware (not software) encryption system designed to be quantum-resilient and ultra-low-latency while using up to 90% less energy than conventional encryption. Co-founded by CEO Melissa Chambers and CTO Ben Harper, the Sheffield, UK company raised £5M in February 2024, followed by a £7.5M round in October 2025 led by Northern Gritstone with Amadeus Capital Partners, Manta Ray, Mercia Ventures, and NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance — bringing total funding to £13.5M. Sitehop is live in production with a tier-one telecom carrier across five countries and completed a proof-of-concept trial with BT.
Overview
- Headquarters
- Sheffield, England, UK
- Founded
- 2021
- Employees
- ~15-36 (reported)
- Total funding
- £13.5M (£5M Feb 2024 + £7.5M Oct 2025)
- Stage
- Seed
- Status
- active
- Domains
- Quantum-resilient encryption, Network security hardware, Critical infrastructure security
- Website
- sitehop.com
Founders2
- FounderMelissa ChambersCo-founder and CEO of Sitehop, a Sheffield-based quantum-resilient network-encryption hardware company.
- FounderBen HarperCo-founder and CTO of Sitehop, described as one of the world's leading FPGA and cryptography experts; leads development of the SAFEseries hardware encryption system.
Investors5
- FundNorthern GritstoneManchester-based investor backing Northern England university spinouts and deep-tech companies; led Sitehop's £7.5M Oct 2025 round.
- FundAmadeus Capital PartnersLondon-based deep-tech VC founded by Anne Glover and Hermann Hauser; co-led Sitehop's Feb 2024 £5M seed and participated in its Oct 2025 £7.5M round.
- FundManta Ray VenturesLondon-based VC; co-led Sitehop's Feb 2024 £5M seed round and participated in its Oct 2025 follow-on.
- FundMercia VenturesUK regional VC (part of Mercia Asset Management); participated in both of Sitehop's funding rounds.
- FundNPIF – Mercia Equity FinanceNorthern Powerhouse Investment Fund's equity-finance strand, managed by Mercia; participated in both of Sitehop's funding rounds.
Cap table0
Approximate ownership by holder. Indexed holders link to their records.
Raised per round
Percentages marked ~ are not disclosed. Some are a generic VC-pattern model (founders/team weighted heaviest, option pool lightest, other holders evenly) sized to whatever's left undisclosed — a standard industry shape, not this company's actual cap table.
| Holder | Instrument | Ownership |
|---|---|---|
NPIF – Mercia Equity FinanceReinvested | Equity | ~20.0% |
Mercia VenturesReinvested | Equity | ~20.0% |
Manta Ray VenturesReinvested | Equity | ~20.0% |
Amadeus Capital PartnersReinvested | Equity | ~20.0% |
| Equity | ~20.0% |
Contracts0
No linked records yet.
Programs0
No linked records yet.
Frequently asked
- What does Sitehop do?
- Sitehop builds SAFEseries, a hardware (not software) encryption system designed to be quantum-resilient and ultra-low-latency while using up to 90% less energy than conventional encryption. Co-founded by CEO Melissa Chambers and CTO Ben Harper, the Sheffield, UK company raised £5M in February 2024, followed by a £7.5M round in October 2025 led by Northern Gritstone with Amadeus Capital Partners, Manta Ray, Mercia Ventures, and NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance — bringing total funding to £13.5M. Sitehop is live in production with a tier-one telecom carrier across five countries and completed a proof-of-concept trial with BT.
- Where is Sitehop headquartered?
- Sitehop is headquartered in Sheffield, England, UK and was founded in 2021.
- How much funding has Sitehop raised?
- Sitehop has raised £13.5M (£5M Feb 2024 + £7.5M Oct 2025) in disclosed funding.
- What does Sitehop specialize in?
- Sitehop works across Quantum-resilient encryption, Network security hardware, Critical infrastructure security.
Sources & citations3
Each claim links to its underlying source. Confidence reflects how directly the source supports the claim.
- 1
Raised £7.5M led by Northern Gritstone to future-proof networks against quantum-powered cyber threats, bringing total funding to £13.5M
Sitehop: Sitehop raises £7.5m to future-proof networks against quantum-powered cyber threatsVerified2025-10-09 - 2
Corroborating coverage of the £7.5M funding round
UKTN: Sheffield cybersecurity startup Sitehop raises £7.5mVerified2025-10-09 - 3
Sitehop Ltd incorporated 4 September 2021 (company #13602589)
UK Companies House: SITEHOP LTD — filing historyVerified2026-08-05