Five Years After the Pandemic, EPSEED Reinvents Secure Remote Work

Five years ago, the world was discovering COVID-19, global lockdowns, large-scale remote work — and the explosion of cybersecurity threats that came with it. In the midst of this shift, a group of computer science students from Epitech Nice decided to tackle one of the biggest challenges of remote work: security.

But rather than developing yet another antivirus or software layer, they came up with a hardware solution — a compact device that fits in your hand and transforms any computer into a professional, secure workstation.

“It’s not an additional piece of software, but a physical device that instantly converts any computer into a professional workspace,” explain Kélian Bailet and Darius Morel, respectively President and Managing Director of EPSEED, the startup they co-founded with Rémi Barjavel, Rémy Salem, and a business angel in December 2022 — “even before finishing our exams,” they joke.

A Simple and Powerful Concept

All you need is an Internet connection and The SEED, the name given to their device. Once plugged into any computer via USB, it loads the user’s professional environment — operating system, tools, and company data — exactly as if they were at the office.

“It’s halfway between an internet box, a firewall, and a connected hard drive,” explains Bailet. “The device uses the host computer’s performance, but the user’s work habits and security settings remain unchanged.”

Equipped with an encryption chip and multiple layers of software protection, The SEED is fully managed by the company that owns it — giving IT teams complete control over user access and data.

It also includes an autonomous battery, allowing data synchronization even when unplugged. And in case of loss or theft, the device can be remotely disabled in just a few clicks, rendering its content unreadable.

“Our solution is also fully sovereign,” adds Morel. “We provide an alternative to cloud dependency — companies can host The SEED on their own infrastructure.”

Designed for SMEs and Remote Teams

After two years of R&D and pilot testing with around twenty companies, EPSEED is now launching its first commercial phase. Its target: SMEs and small businesses that have adopted hybrid or remote work but lack dedicated IT teams.

“For many of them, The SEED is an affordable alternative to buying new work computers,” explain the founders. “It lets companies reuse existing equipment securely while helping them catch up in their digital transformation.”

The device is offered as a subscription service, starting at €29.99 per month. EPSEED expects to reach €300,000 in revenue by 2026 and €1.8 million by 2028.

After being selected once again by Business France, the startup will return to CES Las Vegas in January to seek international partners and cybersecurity experts who can further validate its technology.

Expanding Into Education

EPSEED’s roadmap also includes the education sector, which faces growing challenges around device disparities and exam security. The company has already signed a partnership with Epitech, its founders’ alma mater, to deploy around twenty SEED devices across campuses before expanding the rollout across Europe.

“We’re also looking for beta-testing schools interested in securing their digital exams,” the founders add.

By 2027, EPSEED plans to hire one developer and two sales representatives, joining the four co-founders in advancing the company’s growth and mission.