With participation from Wells Fargo, Qihoo 360 and Sprint, as well as existing investors, EyeVerify just announced that it closed a $6 million Series A funding round.
The investment takes EyeVerify’s total capital to more than $10 million.
In a statement, EyeVerify CEO Toby Rush pointed to the fact that the investors included “the largest security software firm in the world, the leading bank in the U.S., and a wireless network operator serving more than 50 million U.S. customers” to underscore what he called the strong “marketplace validation” of the investment.
And the good news comes in twos for EyeVerify, with the company announcing that it is part of the inaugural class of the Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator. EyeVerify will participate in the new, semiannual fintech bootcamp along with two other companies, including fellow Finovate alum, Zumigo. Participation in the program includes a “direct equity investment” ranging from $50,000 to as much as $500,000. The specific investment in EyeVerify was not immediately available.
EyeVerify’s innovation is the way it approaches eye-based, biometric authentication. The company’s technology uses the veins within the whites of the eyes to take an “eye print” that is as unique to the individual as a fingerprint. Eyeprints can be used in a range of authentication situations, from helping secure employee mobile devices to providing greater security for mobile banking customers. Kevin McGinnis, vice president of Sprint’s Pinsight Media+ division said, “With mobile security evolving beyond passwords, we are pleased to invest in EyeVerify and its easy-to-use, innovative biometric solution.”
Founded in 2012 and based in Kansas City, Kansas, EyeVerify last demoed its Eyeprint Validation technology at FinovateSpring 2014. See the company’s Best of Show winning demo here.