- Soverli allows running multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single smartphone
- Mission-critical users can maintain workflow even if Android is compromised
- Employees can separate personal and business environments without sacrificing device functionality.
Soverli, a Swiss cybersecurity startup, has announced a new mobile security approach that works alongside Android and iOS on commercial smartphones.
The company aims to deliver a fully auditable operating system layer that can run independently, even if the underlying operating system is compromised.
This architecture allows organizations to maintain operational continuity without giving up the features and convenience that users expect from standard devices.
Mission-critical applications and early adoption
Observers often compare Soverli’s model to Proton, applying a similar high-security approach to smartphones rather than email and VPN services.
Soverli’s initial use cases focus on mission-critical communication for public sector organizations and first responders.
Pilots include emergency services, police and fire units, where constant availability is essential.
By running a dedicated software stack in isolation from Android, essential workflows continue to function even during misconfigurations or attacks that impact the core operating system.
Journalists and human rights workers can also use the sandbox to protect communications, ensuring secure messaging apps operate away from surveillance or interference.
“We built a fully auditable sovereign smartphone layer that remains operational even when Android is compromised,” said Ivan Puddu, co-founder and CEO of Soverli.
“It’s a paradigm shift: Instead of expecting the operating system to never fail, Soverli ensures continuity if it fails, without forcing users to give up the modern smartphone experience they expect.”
The platform has sparked interest from companies exploring safe bring-your-own-device programs.
Employees can maintain a personal environment alongside a tightly controlled corporate workspace, protecting sensitive corporate data without eroding personal privacy.
The architecture supports standard enterprise smartphones while separating personal and work environments.
Security features integrate with mobile device management systems and provide protection against identity theft through auditable verification processes.
Engineers developed the technology over four years at ETH Zurich, allowing multiple operating systems to run simultaneously on a single device without hardware modifications.
The patent-pending system reduces the attack surface for critical applications, while encryption tools protect data within the isolated operating system.
Users can switch between Android and the sovereign operating system in milliseconds, balancing convenience with greater security.
The startup has demonstrated that Signal runs within the sovereign layer, confirming that messages remain confidential even if the main operating system is compromised.
The approach aligns with Europe’s broader push towards digital sovereignty, where governments and organizations require auditable infrastructure.
Smartphones, long considered a weak point, can now support sovereign-level protection without removing functionality or forcing trade-offs in terms of usability.
With $2.6 million in seed funding, Soverli plans to expand engineering teams, strengthen OEM partnerships, and scale integrations with business productivity tools.
“People deserve phones they can truly trust, and OEMs need to give them that,” said Antonia Albert, an investor at Founderful.
“Soverli’s sovereign layer, made in Switzerland, is the kind of breakthrough that could rewrite the rules of mobile security.”
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