Sliema, Malta · Startup Altaro is a Sliema-founded backup and data-protection software company best known for Altaro VM Backup, a popular Hyper-V and VMware backup product aimed squarely at the SMB and mid-market segment that was under-served by enterprise tools like Veeam and Commvault. Founded in 2009 by David Vella, the company built a reputation for licensing simplicity, predictable pricing, and an MSP-friendly distribution model that made it a go-to tool for IT service providers managing dozens to hundreds of small-business virtualization environments. In 2021 Altaro was acquired by Hornetsecurity, the German cloud-email-security group, and its product line was folded into Hornetsecurity's broader Microsoft 365 backup and security portfolio — one of the largest software exits ever recorded out of Malta. It is a clean example of how a small-island software team, far from the typical European tech hubs, built an internationally relevant product that ultimately became a strategic asset for a much larger European cybersecurity consolidator.
Sliema, Malta · Venture Capital Malta Venture Capital (MVC) is a €10 million government-backed equity fund launched in 2024 and managed from offices in Sliema, under the auspices of Malta Government Investments. It co-invests alongside private investors in early-stage, high-growth digital and technology-driven businesses, with each eligible startup able to receive up to €500,000 in equity. Target sectors include video game development, fintech, e-sports, life sciences, agritech, AI, and green energy. Since launch MVC has invested in five companies and assembled a network of 30 accredited co-investors.
Sliema, Malta · Startup Octoplay (trading as Gameshop Limited) is a Malta-based B2B iGaming slot game developer founded in October 2022 by former Evolution Gaming executives. The company builds and supplies online slot titles through its own Remote Gaming Server (RGS) and holds licences from the Malta Gaming Authority, the UK Gambling Commission, and several other regulators. Its portfolio includes over 70 slot and 'smash' game titles.
Sliema, Malta · Startup Paytently is a payment orchestration platform built by former executives from Checkout.com, Trustly, and TrueLayer. Founded in 2022 and launched commercially in 2023, its single API enables businesses to route transactions across 60+ acquiring partners and 200+ alternative payment methods, with AI-powered fraud detection and intelligent routing to optimise success rates. Regulated as a Payment Institution by the Malta Financial Services Authority, the company serves iGaming, e-commerce, and other high-volume verticals from its headquarters in Sliema.