GDPR compliance has always carried a reputation for being expensive, complicated, and hard to maintain without a dedicated legal team. heyData is one of the GDPR compliance software platforms working to change that – and in early 2026, it closed a $16.5M Series A funding round to push that goal further. More than 2,000 companies across Europe already use the platform, including names like SoundCloud, eToro, and Bioland.
This matters for any startup or growing business that needs to stay compliant with GDPR, NIS2, ISO 27001, or the EU AI Act – but doesn’t want to spend a small fortune on law firms or build a compliance function from scratch.
One Platform, Many Frameworks:
Most compliance tools solve one problem. heyData is built around the idea that GDPR compliance, IT security, NIS2, ISO 27001, and EU AI Act requirements can all sit on a single platform. That’s a practical advantage for operators who are tired of managing multiple vendors or jumping between tools to prepare for audits.
The platform includes a central dashboard, automated audit checks, employee training with certifications, vendor risk management, and an external Data Protection Officer (DPO) service for companies that need one. Data protection documentation – things like Records of Processing Activities, Data Processing Agreements, and Data Protection Impact Assessments – is also handled directly in the platform.
Why the $16.5M Matters:
The Series A round was led by Riverside Acceleration Capital (RAC). According to heyData, the capital is being directed toward three specific areas.
First, the team is expanding IT security features to merge security and compliance into what they describe as an all-in-one compliance solution 2.0. Second, they’re adding more compliance frameworks and deeper integrations to reduce manual work. Third, they’re scaling beyond the DACH region to reach more companies across Europe.
The timing is deliberate. European regulatory complexity is increasing – the EU AI Act enforcement is rolling out in phases, NIS2 applies to a broader set of sectors than its predecessor, and data protection authorities have grown more active in enforcement. For businesses that want to stay ahead of those requirements without hiring specialist consultants for every update, a platform that handles the heavy lifting is a practical alternative.
The Real Problem it Solves:
Compliance is often treated like a project with a start and end date. In practice, it’s ongoing – regulations change, new tools get added to your stack, and your team grows. Every one of those events can create new compliance obligations.
heyData’s approach is to automate as much of that ongoing work as possible. The platform runs regular audit checks, flags issues before they become violations, and keeps documentation updated. Employee training is built in with certificates at the end, which satisfies a common GDPR requirement without needing a separate LMS or third-party provider.
For companies dealing with vendor risk – a major pain point under GDPR’s data processor rules – the vendor risk management feature centralizes supplier assessments in one place. This is the kind of operational detail that gets expensive fast when handled manually.
Who This is Built For:
heyData is targeted at small and mid-sized companies operating in Europe, particularly those in the DACH region scaling to broader EU markets. If your company handles personal data, processes employee information, uses cloud-based tools with European users, or operates in a regulated industry, GDPR compliance software becomes a necessity – not a nice-to-have.
The platform also offers an external DPO service for companies that need one on record without the overhead of hiring full-time. That’s a practical option for growing teams navigating GDPR requirements for the first time.
Keeping an Eye on What Comes Next:
The product expansion heyData has outlined for 2026 – combining IT security directly with compliance workflows – reflects a broader industry direction. As the EU AI Act starts requiring businesses to document, audit, and govern AI systems, the overlap between compliance, security, and data governance is growing. Platforms that can cover that overlap from a single interface reduce a real operational burden.
For startups and operators evaluating GDPR compliance software options in Europe, the heyData all-in-one compliance solution is worth including in any platform comparison – especially if ISO 27001 readiness or NIS2 compliance is also on the roadmap.
