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ShoCard develops a digital identity and authentication platform leveraging a public blockchain data layer. This system employs public/private key encryption, data hashing, and biometric integrations to securely store and exchange identity information. The core technology empowers individuals by allowing them to manage their own digital identity on a mobile device, choosing precisely what data to share and with whom, while the blockchain validates this information.
Founded in 2015 by Armin Ebrahimi and Jeff Weitzman, ShoCard emerged from the insight that traditional identity verification systems were centralized, vulnerable, and lacked user control over personal data. Ebrahimi, serving as CEO, along with Weitzman, sought to create a paradigm where security and privacy were inherent, building a solution that put the individual at the center of their digital identity management. Their approach utilized advanced cryptographic principles to decentralize identity.
The platform targets enterprises across various sectors needing robust identity verification, including financial institutions. Users benefit from a mobile application designed for intuitive operation, akin to presenting a driver's license, yet engineered to meet stringent security requirements. ShoCard envisions a future where individual privacy is paramount, with no central repository holding sensitive user data, thereby minimizing exposure and enhancing overall digital trust and security.
ShoCard has raised $4.0M across 1 funding round.
ShoCard has raised $4.0M in total across 1 funding round.
ShoCard has raised $4.0M in total across 1 funding round.
ShoCard's investors include Bain Capital Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, Storm Ventures, Wing Venture Capital, Paul Holland.
ShoCard was a blockchain-based digital identity platform that enabled users to store and manage personal identity data securely on their mobile devices as a virtual identity card or "vault." It served consumers and enterprises seeking privacy-focused identity verification, solving problems like data breaches, cumbersome logins, and excessive sharing of personal information by allowing biometric (facial or fingerprint) sharing of validated claims such as proof of employment, salary, education, or vaccination via secure channels like QR codes or text.[1][2][3][5]
The platform built on public blockchain for tamper-proof storage using public/private key encryption and data hashing, reducing fraud and streamlining interactions without traditional forms or passwords.[1][3][5] Acquired by Ping Identity in 2020 for $4.7 million, ShoCard's technology integrated into Ping's Intelligent Identity Platform, enhancing personal identity control for over 2 billion accounts and boosting enterprise IAM with consumer-grade privacy.[1][3]
Founded in 2015, ShoCard emerged as a startup leveraging blockchain for mobile digital identity verification, participating early in events like TechCrunch Disrupt NY 2015.[1][4] The idea stemmed from the need for secure, user-controlled identity management amid rising data privacy concerns, creating a platform where identities lived on a distributed ledger accessible via a mobile app.[1][2]
Key traction came from its innovative use of smartphones as personal vaults, gaining notice for blockchain integration in IAM. The pivotal moment arrived in March 2020 when Ping Identity announced the acquisition (completed October 2020), blending ShoCard's consumer tech with Ping's enterprise scale—leaders like Ping CEO Andre Durand highlighted it as a fit for "personal identity" expansion.[1][3]
ShoCard rode the wave of decentralized identity (DID) and self-sovereign identity (SSI) trends, where blockchain enables user-owned data amid GDPR/CCPA regulations and post-equifax breach scrutiny on centralized IAM.[1][3] Timing was ideal in the mid-2010s blockchain hype, aligning with mobile biometrics rise (e.g., Face ID) and enterprise shift to cloud IAM—Ping's 2016 hashgraph investment foreshadowed this convergence.[1]
Market forces like exploding cyber threats and IoT proliferation favored it, influencing the ecosystem by pioneering "personal identity" models now standard in platforms securing billions of accounts. Its acquisition accelerated adoption, pushing incumbents toward privacy-by-design and biometric-native verification.[3]
Post-acquisition, ShoCard's tech lives on within Ping (now part of Thoma Bravo's portfolio), powering evolved personal identity solutions amid AI-driven fraud detection and Web3 identity standards like DID standards from W3C. Expect deeper integration with Zero Trust architectures, regulatory-compliant wallets for digital health passes, and expansions into DeFi/metaverse verification as blockchain matures beyond hype.
As privacy wars intensify with Big Tech scrutiny, ShoCard's legacy underscores how startups can pivot centralized giants toward user-centric models—cementing its role in a world where your phone truly is your vault.
ShoCard has raised $4.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $4.0M Series A in August 2017.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2017 | $4.0M Series A | Bain Capital Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, Storm Ventures, Wing Venture Capital, Paul Holland |