Licel

What Licel does

Licel is a privately held mobile application security vendor founded in 2011 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, that builds a layered protection suite for Android, iOS, and Java workloads. Its core technology stack pairs DexProtector — a no-code RASP/obfuscation/anti-tamper pipeline that integrates into Android Studio, Xcode, and CI/CD builds — with a software-based Virtual Trusted Execution Environment (vTEE) that performs cryptographic operations and secure storage inside the app without relying on device hardware. The portfolio is rounded out by Stringer Java Obfuscator for desktop and enterprise Java, JCardSim for Java Card simulation, and Alice Threat Intelligence, which receives incident signals from deployed DexProtector instances for malware, device-compromise, and suspicious-activity monitoring.

Licel derives revenue from enterprise software licensing and subscriptions on DexProtector, vTEE, Alice, Stringer, and JCardSim, sold via a quote-based, custom-priced model with annual billing cadence. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by platform coverage, feature set, and deployment volume. The go-to-market blends enterprise field sales — targeting banks, payment providers, SoftPOS vendors, and digital identity programs where certification requirements shape buying decisions — with a developer-friendly self-serve evaluation path through downloadable, locally runnable binaries. The customer base spans six verticals (banking and finance as primary; healthcare, telecoms, automotive, aerospace, and public sector as additional), with stated end-user reach of 310 million mobile banking users, 450,000 smart home networks, 135,000 smart car keys, and 83 million patient medical records.

The company's strategic positioning is anchored to formal certifications: DexProtector has been EMVCo SBMP SPT approved for six consecutive years, and vTEE holds EMVCo SBMP TEE approval for Android (three consecutive years) and iOS (two consecutive years), evaluated by Applus+ Laboratories. Licel is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 compliant, is a participating organization in the PCI Security Standards Council, and is a member of GlobalPlatform. Day-to-day operations are led by co-founders Ivan Kinash (CEO) and Mikhail Dudarev (CTO); the organization is privately owned with no disclosed institutional funding rounds.

Name

Licel

Legal name

Licel Corporation

Website

https://licelus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Licel is a privately held mobile application security vendor that delivers a layered, EMVCo-certified protection suite — DexProtector, vTEE, Stringer, Alice, and JCardSim — for Android, iOS, and Java workloads. It primarily serves banks, payment providers, SoftPOS vendors, and digital identity programs, alongside healthcare, telecoms, automotive, aerospace, and public-sector customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Application Security

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile Application Security (App Shielding, Anti-Tamper) (HDADACAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Runtime Application Self-Protection & In-App Detection (HDADACAI)

Keywords

• Mobile application protection
• Runtime application self-protection
• Code obfuscation
• Virtual trusted execution environment
• Threat intelligence

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses and Subscriptions: Licel generates revenue through licensing its mobile application protection products (DexProtector, vTEE, Alice, Stringer, JCardSim) to enterprises. Products are available as no-code solutions with enterprise pricing. Revenue model appears to follow traditional software licensing with subscription maintenance and support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Licel provides a suite of mobile application and SDK protection products for Android, iOS, and Java platforms. Its portfolio combines code obfuscation, runtime application self-protection (RASP), a software-based virtual Trusted Execution Environment (vTEE), real-time threat intelligence, and Java code protection, enabling financial institutions, payment providers, and other regulated enterprises to secure mobile apps against reverse engineering, tampering, malware, and network-based attacks.

Product overview

Licel offers a suite of mobile application protection products organized around a layered security approach. The core offering includes DexProtector for dynamic app and SDK protection, vTEE for secure execution of sensitive operations, and Stringer Java Obfuscator for Java code protection. These are complemented by Alice Threat Intelligence for real-time threat monitoring and JCardSim as a Java Card simulator. The products work both independently and in combination; for example, vTEE integrates with DexProtector's protection suite to provide a holistic defense for the mobile channel, combining code hardening, RASP, and trusted execution capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DexProtector: Dynamic protection for iOS and Android apps and SDKs. A no-code security solution providing obfuscation, encryption, RASP, and runtime protection.
• Stringer Java Obfuscator
• Alice Threat Intelligence
• vTEE (Virtual Trusted Execution Environment)
• JCardSim

Products and services

• DexProtector Dynamic protection solution for iOS and Android apps and SDKs providing code obfuscation, encryption, virtualization, RASP, anti-tampering, root detection, SSL pinning, and Mobile API Protection. EMVCo SBMP evaluated and approved for six consecutive years.
• Stringer Java Obfuscator

Quantifiable outcome

• 310 million mobile banking users protected globally
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Applus+ LaboratoriescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorld-leading independent security evaluation laboratory that conducts EMVCo security evaluations for Licel's products. Applus+ Laboratories performs rigorous testing and evaluation of DexProtector and vTEE solutions against EMVCo SBMP and SBMP TEE security requirements. The partnership is central to Licel's certification strategy.
• EMVCocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal technical body responsible for secure integration of card-based payment products worldwide. Licel products undergo EMVCo evaluation and approval processes. EMVCo approval positions Licel to support wallet providers meeting EU cybersecurity expectations for European Digital Identity Wallets.
• PCI Security Standards CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicel is a participating organization/partner with PCI Security Standards Council, contributing to the development of PCI Security Standards including PCI MPoC. Company uses expertise to help drive ongoing development and adoption of payment security standards.
• GlobalPlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicel is a member of GlobalPlatform, an organization that defines standards for secure digital services and devices. Membership supports digital security standards development and ensures alignment with international security specifications.
• FastSpringminorOthersThird-party payment processor handling payment processing for Licel's products and services. PCI-DSS compliant payment processor handling payment card transactions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Promon: Norwegian mobile application shielding company whose flagship SHIELD product offers app hardening, anti-tampering, and runtime protection directly comparable to Licel's DexProtector and vTEE, targeting the same financial, payment, and regulated enterprise buyers.
• GuardSquare: Belgian developer of DexGuard (Android) and iXGuard (iOS), which provide code obfuscation, RASP, and anti-tampering for mobile apps and SDKs; one of the closest direct competitors to Licel's DexProtector in regulated verticals.
• Build38: Germany-based mobile app protection and runtime analytics vendor offering in-app protection, threat intelligence, and secure runtime environments that map closely to Licel's combined DexProtector + Alice + vTEE stack for banking, payments, and healthcare customers.
• Verimatrix: Provides Verimatrix app shielding and code protection solutions (formerly Inside Secure) targeting mobile banking, fintech, and media clients with runtime protection and anti-tampering directly comparable to Licel's offerings.
• Approov: Mobile-first runtime API protection and app attestation vendor whose certificates and RASP-style attestation overlap with Licel's Mobile API Protection and DexProtector, particularly for mobile banking and fintech integrations.
• NowSecure: Mobile app security testing and runtime defense vendor (now part of Kroll) with overlapping runtime protection, mobile app security assessment, and threat detection capabilities adjacent to Licel's DexProtector and Alice Threat Intelligence.

Broad incumbents

• Lookout: Established mobile threat defense and mobile endpoint security vendor whose broader MTD product line overlaps with Licel's runtime protection and threat intelligence focus, but caters to a wider MDM/MSSP audience rather than app shielding per se.
• Zimperium: Mobile security platform offering zIPS (MTD) and zKeybox (SDK-based app protection) that overlaps with Licel's RASP and threat-intelligence capabilities, though it is a broader incumbent across enterprise mobility rather than pure app shielding.
• DigiCert: Major certificate authority and code-signing/security vendor providing app integrity, secure software signing, and device identity assets adjacent to Licel's anti-tampering, integrity controls, and device-binding features in a much larger enterprise portfolio.

Emerging players

• Corellium: Mobile-focused virtual device platform for security testing, reversing, and validation whose ARM-based iOS/Android cloud devices are used by similar buyers to test shielded apps, providing a complementary (rather than directly competing) capability to Licel's RASP stack.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/licel/jcardsim
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/licel
• Xx.com/licel_en

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Licel