Soverli Sovereign OS for Smartphones

Soverli is a Zurich-based ETH Zurich spin-off (Soverli AG) building a security layer for mobile devices. It targets public sector bodies, enterprises and manufacturers that need a phone they can trust even if the main operating system is compromised.

The Soverli layer sits directly on the hardware beneath two operating systems that run at once on a standard smartphone: a Sovereign OS whose components the customer chooses, and an unmodified Android. Users switch by a side button, the OSes are isolated, and each has its own patch cycle and policies through existing MDM/UEM tools.

• Dual OS layer: Soverli sits on the hardware beneath both operating systems.
• Sovereign OS: components are chosen by the customer.
• Unmodified Android: the standard OS stays untouched.
• Instant switching: a handover rather than a reboot.
• Hardware assignment: screen, microphone and camera go to the foreground OS.
• MDM/UEM support: each phone appears once per OS in existing tools.

Government officials using one phone for both secure communications and ordinary apps. Executives of large enterprises separating confidential work from personal use. Device manufacturers shipping phones with a built-in secure OS.

Isolates a sovereign OS so an exploit on standard Android does not expose it.

Switches OS instantly by side button, without a reboot.

Works with existing MDM/UEM tools, with separate update and policy deployment per OS.

Runs on standard smartphones.

Governments and enterprises worry about mobile spyware and dependence on foreign operating systems, driving interest in sovereign and isolated mobile environments. Vietnamese agencies and enterprises handling sensitive communications may seek similar isolation.

ETH Zurich spin-off. Pre-seed round of 2.6 million USD reported 2025-12-15 by SecurityWeek, led by Founderful with ETH Zurich Foundation, Venture Kick and angels. Offers demo booking; pricing not published.