Saffe

High-Level Overview

Saffe is a London-based technology company specializing in AI-driven fraud prevention and customer verification through facial biometrics, liveness detection, cryptography, and distributed computing.[1][2][3] It serves financial services, e-commerce, fintechs, and access control sectors by enabling secure authentication for onboarding (KYC), transactions, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and "naked payments" in physical stores, prioritizing security, convenience, and digital inclusion while processing millions of transactions monthly.[1][2][4] Formerly Facewallet and founded in 2015, Saffe has demonstrated strong technical performance, ranking top 15 in NIST FRVT 1:1 in 2019 and achieving ISO/IEC 30107 compliance for liveness detection, with growth evidenced by lead generation campaigns securing 54 appointments with firms like Credit Suisse and Monzo Bank.[1][2][3]

Origin Story

Saffe was founded in 2015 in London, United Kingdom, evolving from Facewallet and rooted in academic research on computer vision and machine learning.[1][2][4] Key founders include CEO André Coelho from São Paulo, Brazil; CTO Giovani Chiachia, who holds a Ph.D. in computer vision and machine learning with time at Harvard University and IT industry experience; and Head of Content Bruna Medeiros from São Paulo.[4] The idea emerged from a mission to blend security and convenience via facial biometrics, pioneering innovations like "naked payments" and earning an FCA license as a small payment institution in the UK.[2] Early traction included top rankings in NIST FRVT and PAD tests in 2019, establishing credibility for high-volume transaction authentication.[1][2]

Core Differentiators

• Superior Technical Performance: Ranked top 15 in NIST FRVT 1:1 (2019) and compliant with ISO/IEC 30107 for liveness detection via NIST FRVT PAD, outperforming many in face recognition and anti-spoofing for millions of monthly transactions.[1][2][4]
• Comprehensive Product Suite: Offers API, Web, iOS, and Android SDKs for embedding biometrics in user journeys like KYC, MFA, e-commerce checkouts, tokenization, and access control (e.g., offices, gyms, public transport); supports low-power devices and custom integrations.[2][4]
• Innovation in Use Cases: Pioneered "naked payments" in physical stores without wallets or phones; emphasizes live verification over static IDs for speed, safety, flexibility, and cost-efficiency, enhancing user experience in fraud-prone sectors.[2][3]
• Proven Market Traction: Backed by investors like CFV Ventures, Wayra, and DOCOMO; recent campaigns yielded 112% of meeting targets with global cybersecurity leaders in banking.[3][4]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Saffe rides the wave of rising online fraud and cyber threats in fintech and e-commerce, where biometric authentication addresses limitations of passwords and static IDs amid sophisticated deepfakes and attacks.[2][3] Timing aligns with regulatory pushes for strong customer authentication (e.g., FCA licensing) and global demand for inclusive, frictionless security in digital finance, especially post-pandemic.[1][2] Market forces like AI advancements in computer vision and the shift to passwordless systems favor Saffe's proprietary tech, which integrates seamlessly across high-stakes sectors and influences ecosystem partners through co-innovation for new journeys like transport access.[2][3][4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Saffe is poised to expand its biometric platform into emerging areas like embedded finance, IoT access control, and global "naked payments," leveraging its NIST-proven edge and partner flexibility amid AI-driven cybersecurity trends.[2][4] Trends such as deepfake proliferation and regulatory mandates for liveness will amplify demand, potentially scaling via more investor-backed pilots and SDK adoptions in underserved markets.[1][3] Its influence may evolve from niche antifraud provider to key enabler of seamless, inclusive digital identities, solidifying its role in secure, user-centric tech ecosystems.[2]