Incode Technologies: Solving global security challenges and elevating human interactions with data, products, and services — at all levels

The world is gradually moving toward a time when individuals’ online identities matches their real-life identities and provide a global and accurate view of who they are, what they do, and how they see themselves. Consolidating the currently fragmented versions of digital identity promises to make for more informative, secure, and streamlined processes for companies and agencies and a more convenient, accessible, and manageable world for individuals. In simple terms, we can say that digitizing the human experience is the way of the future.

Incode Technologies is one such digital identity company that builds delightful and secure biometric identity products for frictionless banking, payment, hospitality, and retail experiences. Incode is recognized as a leader in enterprise-grade facial recognition by the US Government. Built for the next generation of consumers, Incode’s products are already used by some of the world’s largest banks, financial institutions, governments, and retailers. Incode Technologies sets a new standard in convenience and security for those who matter the most: the end-users.

Incode Technologies was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in San Francisco.

The Silicon Review reached out to Ricardo Amper, Founder & CEO of Incode Technologies, and here’s what he had to say.

Interview Highlights

Q. How do you deal with the privacy concerns surrounding the use of identity solutions?

In an increasingly interconnected world where real-world and digital identities intertwine, robust biometric verification and authentication play a pivotal role in establishing and maintaining digital trust. Traditional identity solutions route data to servers and call centers, increasing exposure and risk; it only takes one bad actor to breach your sensitive data. We use our own, fully in-house-developed algorithms versus working with a third party, which enables us to provide customers with the highest levels of privacy, security, and accuracy. NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) performs bias tests, and Incode ranks highly for accuracy and minimal bias. By processing user data on the edge, i.e., directly within the device, Incode delivers low-latency performance and limited handling for industry-leading data security, powering a digital world where trust is the foundation.

At Incode, we empower users to choose the data they share with external parties, prioritizing data relevance with a privacy-first approach. Incode is the intersection where users can verify their true identity and businesses across a variety of industries and comply with local regulations.

Q. What does innovation mean to you and how do you deliver it through your services?

Innovation means questioning outdated, legacy identity systems and constantly introducing new solutions that set new security benchmarks in a seamless way. At Incode, we take pride in our biometric verification and authentication innovations that are guiding the identity industry toward a world where one digital identity everywhere is possible. We are revolutionizing trust across every major vertical and transforming identity proofing with the most accurate, flexible, and easy-to-integrate proprietary technology.

Incode authentication provides industry-leading security, accuracy, and speed. Our Integrated Identity Platform (IIP) utilizes AI/ML to authenticate IDs with biometric templates rather than PPI, minimizing data movement by processing data at the edge of the device. We also develop our own algorithms for facial recognition and liveness detection with regular testing; Incode’s most recent NIST 1:1 results (incode-011) are among the most accurate and bias-free, not to mention fast. A simple glance of the face at a smartphone camera authenticates in less than a second. This speed is due in part to Incode’s industry-first passive liveness detection, which does not require extensive face movements, unlike active liveness detection.

Incode connects all information silos, eliminating the need for customers to endure multiple onboarding sessions or continually share copies of sensitive documents. Instead, customers can choose to save their information for instant-selfie access to various services, such as opening a new high-yield savings account, applying for a mortgage, or upgrading to first-class seating. A recent example of Incode’s innovation is Fan ID, which addresses stadium safety concerns by instantly identifying every individual entering a stadium while also enabling organizations to support every stage of the customer journey. Incode provides attestation with information saved on a customer’s device, rather than keeping copies of IDs or passports.

Every year, especially in the post-pandemic landscape, we're seeing progress away from password authentication. By prioritizing frictionless, global solutions like Incode Omni or Fan ID, we can move away from non-inclusive efforts with suboptimal performance that leave people behind at scale.

Q. What are the future trends to watch out for in the identity solutions segment?

As irrevocably damaging digital threats like deepfakes become more sophisticated, organizations need to be able to prove someone’s identity with the utmost certainty. Biometrics are replacing obsolete systems like passwords, PIN numbers, and physical ID cards, which are prone to fraud and error and easily faked or lost. Passwordless authentication technology uses multiple factors such as biometrics, device recognition, and context to leverage users’ comprehensive identity signals, offering a more secure and convenient alternative to traditional password-reliant methods. Passwordless authentication technology reduces costly password-related issues by eliminating the need for password resets and account lockouts.

The key differentiator between industry leaders and those falling behind is the commitment to reimagining customer trust through innovative solutions and rigorous, ongoing certifications. Customers often come to Incode because what they’re trying to build doesn’t exist with legacy providers. Incode partners with the largest brands to build digital identity solutions tailored directly to their specific pain points. Incode’s proprietary core AI/ML algorithms are continuously evaluated to ensure full transparency and customizability for our customers, eliminating any concerns around privacy, data retention, or a user’s ability to meaningfully opt-out.

Q. Compliance is important for any organization. How does Incode help its customers with compliance efforts?

To keep up with compliance standards, organizations are required to collect and validate information from numerous resellers, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, placing a significant administrative burden on businesses. An additional challenge is ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the collected data. With limited time for verification, there is a risk of incomplete or inaccurate information, potentially leading to false positives or false negatives in identifying resellers who meet the threshold. Next-generation biometric verification technology can provide proven scalability for maximum accuracy and full-proof results.

Choosing a privacy-centric identification verification solution that is connected to a source of truth and transactional history will increase trust and help alleviate any potential friction that the act may cause with resellers and partners. Lastly, compliance with the INFORM Act may require organizations to navigate complex legal and regulatory frameworks. Understanding and adhering to the specific requirements of the legislation can pose challenges, especially for businesses operating in multiple jurisdictions with varying regulations. By utilizing Incode’s fully automated platform that's globally connected and updated regularly, businesses can remain compliant across the regions they service.

Ricardo Amper | Founder & CEO

Ricardo Amper is a serial entrepreneur and visionary leader with over 20 years of experience founding and leading fast-growing, disruptive companies.

Ricardo has a BA in Business Administration from ITAM.

“At Incode, we empower users to choose the data they share with external parties, prioritizing data relevance with a privacy-first approach.”