EdTech innovator听eSafe Global has been acquired by Smoothwall.听
Based in Salford, eSafe听Global鈥檚听TripleLock听software solution protects more than one million children and young people.听
It has been acquired by fellow safeguarding technology provider Smoothwall, a business听based in Leeds and听backed by European mid-market tech investor, Tenzing.听
Grant Thornton听advised exiting investor Maven Capital Partners on the deal, identifying Smoothwall as an excellent strategic partner to support eSafe鈥檚 future ambitions.听
Smoothwall鈥檚听software protects more than five million children across the听UK. It pioneered the content-aware, real-time web filter which is now the UK鈥檚 number one web filter for education, while听in recent years it has become a provider of digital safeguarding record management solutions and human moderated proactive monitoring solutions.听听听听
Georg Ell, CEO of Smoothwall, commented: 鈥淭he acquisition comes at a pivotal time with both the UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) and Ofsted Abuse Review highlighting the need for improved digital safeguarding provision at all levels.听听
鈥淲e thank all eSafe and Smoothwall customers for their continuous support and look forward to exciting times ahead.鈥澨�听
Christian Hamilton,听founder and听Co-Managing Partner of Tenzing, added: 鈥淭he acquisition of eSafe is an important step in UK education as the need to protect children online becomes more and more critical.听听
鈥淭his investment strengthens Smoothwall鈥檚 position in the fast-growing monitoring market and enhances the company鈥檚 offering to its loyal customer base in schools around the world.鈥�