One of the priorities of Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF) is financial and expert support to startups in their early development stages. IIDF has invested in 402 tech startups. The Fund invests between 2.5M and 324M rubles in tech companies at early stages, i.e. pre-seed, seed and series A.  The Fund also plans to launch a variety of educational programs and to perform a number of legislative initiatives. These steps will help to increase transparency and ensure effective cooperation between entrepreneurs, investors, and state agencies in the field of venture capital investments in Russian online-projects. IIDF's mission is to make Russia more attractive for tech enterpreneurs. They want to make the Russian venture market understandable and accessible to anyone who wants to begin or grow their Internet businesses.

Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF)

VisionLabs B.V.

VisionLabs is a team of Computer Vision and Machine Learning experts. We specialize in developing products and solutions in the areas of face recognition, object recognition, augmented reality and virtual reality. Our products are based on state-of-the-art algorithms and technologies developed solely by VisionLabs. The quality of our products is proven by numerous implementations and by the independent third-party face recognition engines tests. Together with our respected Partners we deliver solutions globally to the security, retail, banking, transportation and other industries. VisionLabs is among the top leaders in face recognition algorithms test by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

VisionLabs is a Netherlands based company specializing in developing products and solutions in the areas of face recognition, object recognition, augmented reality, and virtual reality. The company’s Luna software package allows businesses to verify the identity of customers and do payments (introduced in October 2021). Luna SDK is capable of processing faces in images and live video streams. The company also provides the Luna platform which provides the basic graphical user interface. VisionLabs only uses self-developed technology and its FLOWer inference framework based on Dynamic Neural Networks. VisionLabs is also one of the 15 organizations (including companies and universities) developing PyTorch (open source machine learning library). The company targets industries such as security, retail, banking, and transportation and also has offices in Singapore and Russia. In November 2021, the company announced the deployment of its technology in 60+ universities and schools in Russia. In December 2021, it was announced that the company will be acquired by Russia’s mobile network operator, Mobile TeleSystems Public Joint Stock Company (MTS), through its subsidiary Intema S.a.r.l.

Facial recognition delivers incredible convenience to consumers, as well as serious risks.

Facial Recognition

<div>European company VisionLabs offers computer vision and AI-based facial and object recognition technology for security, retail, banking, and transportation applications. In addition to authenticating identities, the sensors and scanning technology also include temperature scanning technology, to help combat the Covid-19 spread. VisionLabs offers the &ldquo;LUNA&rdquo; system development kit (SDK) capable of processing images and live video streams, across several devices. The company distinguishes itself from peer facial recognition platforms by using separate convoluted neural networks (CNNs) for face recognition and face attributes extraction.&nbsp;</div>

Biometric Payments

VisionLabs

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC

MTS entered the biometric payments market through its subsidiary Intema S.a.r.l. acquiring a 100% stake in AI-based facial and object recognition technology provider VisionLabs, for RUB 7 billion (USD 95 million).

Companies providing biometric POS terminals, including the complementing software that uses facial or iris recognition for payment authentication.

VisionLabs is a Netherlands based company specializing in developing products and solutions in the areas of face recognition, object recognition, augmented reality, and virtual reality. The company’s Luna software package allows businesses to verify the identity of customers and do payments (introduced in October 2021). Luna SDK is capable of processing faces in images and live video streams. The company also provides the Luna platform which provides the basic graphical user interface. VisionLabs only uses self-developed technology and its FLOWer inference framework based on Dynamic Neural Networks. VisionLabs is also one of the 15 organizations (including companies and universities) developing PyTorch (open source machine learning library). The company targets industries such as security, retail, banking, and transportation and also has offices in Singapore and Russia. In November 2021, the company announced the deployment of its technology in 60+ universities and schools in Russia. In December 2021, it was announced that the company will be acquired by Russia’s mobile network operator, Mobile TeleSystems Public Joint Stock Company (MTS), through its subsidiary Intema S.a.r.l.<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21210">In August 2023 </a>, VisionLabs, launched LUNA ACE 2, an access control terminal designed for enhanced security, primarily aimed at government entities and large corporations. This system consists of three components: the terminal device, a facial recognition engine, and a device management platform. Notably, the UAE was the initial country to implement LUNA ACE 2, leveraging its AI capabilities, advanced camera system, and VisionLabs' "on-the-move" technology. Key customers and partnershipsIn October 2020, VisionLabs entered a partnership with Huawei to combine their technology with Huawei’s AI computing platform Atlas. In May 2023, the company entered a partnership with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18776">Thawani Technologies, </a>an Omani company that offers smart payment solutions, to bring FacePay to Oman.

<div>
 
 Founded in Spain, FacePhi offers a wide range of facial recognition identity authentication solutions for transaction approval and digital onboarding. FacePhi&rsquo;s Selphi software allows the user to conduct ID authentication by using a selfie. The selfie is encrypted and sent to the bank&rsquo;s database to be used in payee authentication. The encryptions ensure the user's privacy as the full image is not sent to the bank. The company&rsquo;s revenue increased by around 143% during the first half of 2020 (compared to the same period in 2019) on account of agreements with 10 new clients, compared to 13 new customers during 2019 (full year), indicating the growth potential of the company.
 
 
 In May 2021, FacePhi partnered with Revelock, a Spanish fraud detection company, to provide comprehensive identity verification and fraud prevention solutions for financial institutions. In February 2022, the company partnered with software company Oracle Cloud Marketplace, for the latter to work as a distributor for FacePhi's digital onboarding and facial recognition solutions. In November 2021, the company also partnered with airport operator Aena to offer identity verification for passengers and employees at a price of USD 1.7 million for four years. With the aim of expanding presence in the LATAM region, FacePhi established a regional office in Uruguay in March 2022, followed by an agreement with 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates?industryIds=16">
 Hites,
 </a>
 a Chilean department store, to use remote selfie onboarding technology to let Hites&rsquo; customers apply for credit cards online. In May 2022, FacePhi opened another
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10796?industryIds=16">
 office in the UK
 </a>
 to serve Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) regions.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 During the fiscal year 2022, FacePhi recorded net revenues of EUR 2.2 million ( ~USD 2.3 million), growing 69% YoY, and an adjusted EBITDA of EUR 4.3 million ( ~USD 4.6 million), unchanged from the previous year.
 
 
 
</div>

FacePhi

Headquartered in the Netherlands, Sightcorp is an AI spin-off from the University of Amsterdam that develops patented proprietary AI Software solutions for mobile apps, including face detection (detect multiple faces in an image), emotion analysis, crowd demographics, and attention analytics. The main target markets of the company include retail, advertising, hospitality, and digital signage.In January 2022, Sightcorp was <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/7828?industryIds=16">acquired by Raydiant </a>, a provider of an in-location experience management platform, to jointly develop solutions for personalized on-screen, in-location experiences targeting retailers, restaurants, etc. Sightcorp expects to open offices in Lithuania and London in 2022 and to grow its European team from 20 to 100. Raydiant is also hiring across the US and internationally to accompany Sightcorp’s new offices.

Sightcorp

<div>
 
 Okaya offers a mobile app that aims to understand users&rsquo; wellbeing by using a combination of facial recognition technology, biometrics analysis (such as heart rate, weight, etc.), and machine learning. Okaya&rsquo;s facial recognition algorithm, developed in-house, analyses facial features obtained from a 15-second video recording where up to 30 frames are captured in a second. This data is evaluated along with other biometrics to determine a person&rsquo;s level of fatigue. The product claims to help create strong work teams and a robust work environment allowing the identification of areas where improvement is required.
 
</div>

Okaya

<div>
 
 Facetec offers a 3D face authentication software called ZoOm capable of high-performance liveness detection (verification of whether facial features captured are from a living subject). The software can work on smart mobile devices and webcams. The company also has patented technology to generate a 3D face map using a video selfie recorded even with a 2D camera. In September 2019, Facetec improved its product by embedding an age-estimation tool. Even though selfie-based authentication has become commonplace, many of them uses 2D facial mapping which makes it are vulnerable to spoofing attacks (trying to obtain access illegitimately by reproducing a person's face using images, masks, mannequins etc.) due to use of 2D mapping of facial features. FaceTec's technology is superior to others as it allows to create a 3D map of the face even with a normal 2D camera. While most other 3D face mapping requires designated hardware components, FaceTec's technology eliminates this requirement. Hence, it does not require app developers to rely on device manufacturers to incorporate additional hardware to use ZoOm. The company claims its product is one of the few companies to be certified in level 1 and 2 in iBeta Presentation Attack Detection (PAD) testing directed by an ISO standard. The software can detect digital and physical 'spoof artifacts' such as high-resolution photos and videos, masks and mannequins. FaceTec has over 100 customers across various verticals with an installed base of over 10 billion smart devices. ZoOm targets a wide range of markets ranging from banking, e-commerce, healthcare, insurance, e-voting, attendance, and government. Majority of FaceTec's customers are currently government and financial institutions.
 
</div>

FaceTec, Inc.

<div>
 
 FaceFirst offers facial recognition solutions mainly for access control as well as for identity authentication and real-time security. It focuses on retailers, airports, casinos, banks, as well as music and gaming events. The company also offers a mobile app (for iOS and Android) for facial recognition on the go. FaceFirst&rsquo;s facial recognition tool is mainly aimed at the retail segment, which accounts for around 50% of its business. FaceFirst&rsquo;s patented retail security platform can identify any known shoplifters or forbidden employees attempting to enter the store. Its products can be integrated with existing retail systems. 
 
 
 The company also introduced Mask-ID in November 2018, which instantly blurs identified faces without compromising accuracy. Additionally, the retail security platform allows its users to access the company&rsquo;s database of retail criminals, enabling them to include any individuals banned by the company itself. FaceFirst is one of the companies to work with lawmakers to help regulate the industry.
 
</div>

FaceFirst

Companies that are developing facial recognition technology to suggest tags for photos uploaded on the platform, typically social media.

Companies that provide facial recognition technology for contactless and fast-payment gateways.

Companies providing tools to identify VIP customers and repeat customers by using facial recognition.

Companies that provide technology to monitor physical access to offices, retail stores, and residences as well as access to electronic devices, such as mobile phones and laptops, using facial recognition.

Companies providing facial recognition technology to identify people from live and recorded videos.

Companies that provide facial recognition technology to police and government agencies to identify criminals, protestors, unauthorized overstayers in the country, and departing passengers.

Facial recognition is a type of biometrics used to verify individuals

Used in smart city applications for access control

Facial recognition technology is built on ML models for training data

<div>
 
 European company VisionLabs offers computer vision and AI-based facial and object recognition technology for security, retail, banking, and transportation applications. In addition to authenticating identities, the sensors and scanning technology also include temperature scanning technology, to help combat the Covid-19 spread. VisionLabs offers the &ldquo;LUNA&rdquo; system development kit (SDK) capable of processing images and live video streams, across several devices. The company distinguishes itself from peer facial recognition platforms by using separate convoluted neural networks (CNNs) for face recognition and face attributes extraction.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 VisionLabs offers its technology primarily to the Russian market; however, its systems are also used in China, Southeast Asia, the US, the Middle East, and Europe, mainly in the banking and retail sectors. For the retail sector, VisionLabs has partnered with SWiP, a biometric payment software provider, to deploy a facial recognition-based payment terminal, which uses a 3D camera with spoofing protection. In addition to the payment terminal, the retail solutions include online/offline customer journey management, audience measurement, as well as loss and shoplifting prevention solutions.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 
 
 VisionLabs&rsquo;s checkout terminal was deployed in 52 Perekrestok supermarkets in Russia, by the X5 Retail Group, at the beginning of March 2021. The companies planned to launch the terminals in up to 3,000 stores across the country during the year. In November 2021, the company also announced the deployment of its access control and payment technology in 60+ universities and schools in Russia.
 
 
 
 In May 2022, the company 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18777">
 partnered with Thawani Technologies
 </a>
 , an Omani company that offers smart payment solutions, to bring FacePay to Oman. Initial FacePay terminals will be established at the Sultanate of Oman, providing the option to finalize a transaction using either facial recognition or a credit card.
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 
 Russia&rsquo;s largest mobile operator Mobile TeleSystems Public Joint Stock Company&rsquo;s (MTS), subsidiary Intema S.a.r.l. signed a definitive agreement, in December 2021, 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/7317">
 to acquire VisionLabs
 </a>
 for RUB 7 billion (USD 95 million). The deal is subject to regulatory approval, and the final deal amount will rely on the performance-based metrics of VisionLabs over the next three years.
 
</div>

<div>
 
 Biyo, formerly known as PulseWallet, offers a biometric POS terminal that uses palm prints (unique vein patterns and blood-flow) to verify users and authenticate payments. Biyo&rsquo;s systems to identify and authenticate customers are powered by Fujitsu&rsquo;s &ldquo;PalmSecure&rdquo; biometric technology.
 
 
 Users must initially swipe their payment card/device at the first payment at a Biyo terminal, to pair the palmprint with the card. Thereafter, the palm prints will be used for authentication at any Biyo terminal (the phone number continues to act as a second authentication method, similar to a username). Biyo claims that using a customer&rsquo;s unique palm-vein patterns for identification is more secure than using fingerprints (which it offered till 2014), as users can leave behind traces of the latter. Moreover, the company claims that scanned palm vein patterns have a 99.9% accuracy.&nbsp;&nbsp;
 
 
 Businesses can connect the Biyo terminal to existing POS cash registers, or acquire Biyo&rsquo;s bundled register, which includes a tablet. Biyo can be used by retailers in any industry, including restaurants, convenience stores, coffee shops, etc. The company charges merchants USD 89-169 per month for a single store and device, with the option of adding devices at USD 59 per device per month. The packages vary based on several features such as multi-store functionality, live chat support, inventory scanner licenses, and account managers, among others.
 
 
 End customers can utilize the Biyo app as a digital wallet for storing multiple credit cards, reward cards, coupons, transferring funds, and improving their financial management.&nbsp;
 
</div>

Biyo

<div>
 
 PopID, co-founded by foodtech holding company Cali Group, provides facial and palm recognition technology for enterprises to offer loyalty, payment (PopPay), and access control (PopEntry). The company uses core algorithms developed by NEC, a Japanese electronics vendor, and combines it with PopID&rsquo;s internally developed technologies.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 PopPay users can create accounts on PopID&rsquo;s app by submitting&nbsp; a selfie, can connect multiple payment methods to their account (functions as an eWallet), and use facial recognition to pay at checkout at physical retail stores that have installed PopID&rsquo;s software to their kiosks and POS terminals (or use PopID&rsquo;s own kiosks and terminals). In April 2023 the company broadened its offering by 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17878">
 including palm-based user authentication
 </a>
 in partnership with PalmID. This enabled end customers to use either facial or palm recognition to make payments and sign into loyalty programs.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 In November 2021, the PopPay system was expanded to authenticate payments made via mobile apps and websites. Through this, PopPay offers a unified payment solution for both brick-and-mortar transactions and online orders, created on a website or in a mobile app. PopID claims its eWallet offers lower processing fees for merchants, compared to credit and debit cards.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 PopID is also capable of analyzing order histories and providing recommendations to merchants, potentially increasing sales. The company leverages its diverse product and customer base to capture merchants for its payment solution by initially installing PopEntry (entry systems for campuses and workplaces), and thereafter introducing payment solutions to local merchants (in or near the premises), once the user communities are more comfortable with the tech.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 
 PopID caters mainly to restaurants and retail brands, and as of April 2023, its solutions were reportedly used by over 150 different brands for payment and loyalty. Its customers included Cali burgers, Bojangles, Lemonade, and Parkway Grill. The company also partnered with automated pizza-maker Piestro in March 2021, to enable biometric payments at Piestro&rsquo;s stores.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 PopID has entered into several partnerships to expand the use of its terminals across the globe. These partners include 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/6516">
 Japan Computing Vision
 </a>
 (November 2021) 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9063">
 ASM Global
 </a>
 (March 2022), 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9569">
 Visa and Dubai Holdings
 </a>
 (April 2022), 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10571?industryIds=61">
 SunCash
 </a>
 (May 2022), 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14837">
 FIFA
 </a>
 (November 2022), 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15707?industryIds=61">
 Toshiba
 </a>
 , 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15887">
 QNB Group
 </a>
 , and 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16522?industryIds=61">
 Tyme
 </a>
 (January/February 2023), among others. Moreover, in May 2022, 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10515?industryIds=61">
 Mastercard named PopID as a partne
 </a>
 r to launch Mastercard&rsquo;s biometric checkout solution across the globe.
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 
 
 In addition to the Cali Group, PopID is backed financially by various franchise operators of global restaurant brands and owners of Stoner&rsquo;s Pizza Joint, Park Burger, and Bird Call.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 The company raised USD 10 million in Series B funding in September 2021, to expand its PopEntry and PopPay deployment within and beyond the country over the following year and a half. 
 
</div>

PopID

<div>
 
 PayByFace provides facial recognition technology for enterprises to offer loyalty and payment services. Users create accounts on the PayByFace app by submitting a selfie and connect payment methods to their account. Thereafter, they can use their face to pay at checkout at physical retail stores that have installed PayByFace&rsquo;s software to their smart checkout devices (such as tablets).&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 The company noted that its platform encrypts user data and is in compliance with GDPR and PSD/2, and has been fully validated by the National Bank of Romania and the European Central Bank. PayByFace also claims that its apps recognize faces with a 99% accuracy in under a second, without requiring an internet connection.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 The company also provides merchant payment terminals (digital signage) as platforms for digital out-of-home advertisements (static, repeat visibility, targeted marketing, etc) and shares the ad revenue with the merchants. In addition to its in-store biometric payment solution, PayByFace also provides facial recognition authentication for online checkouts as well.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 PayByFace 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13257?industryIds=61">
 deployed its payment solutions in several locations 
 </a>
 across the globe, namely, the US, the UAE, and South Africa, in September 2022. Subsequently, in&nbsp; April 2024, 
 <a href="https://www.biometricupdate.com/202404/paybyface-expands-across-european-markets">
 PayByFace announced plans to further expand into the European market
 </a>
 , including the Netherlands, the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Austria,, and Bulgaria.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 
 
 PayByFace claims to be the only facial recognition-based payment system in Southeast Europe and primarily targets essential businesses, such as pharmacies, grocery stores, and gas stations. As of May 2022, the platform was used in over 50 locations in Romania. The platform collaborates with Romanian online card payment processing company Euplatesc to facilitate payments and intends to integrate its service with card processing providers in France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland in the future.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 PayByFace partnered with ride-hailing app, GoCab in May 2021, to enable customers to settle their cab fare using facial recognition, via tablets installed in the backseat (10 taxis initially with plans to expand to 300 in the future). The tablets also broadcasted a series of advertisements, where the revenue was split evenly between GoCab and PayByFace.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 The company is also a part of the VISA Innovation Program in Bulgaria, and through the program, Bulgaria&rsquo;s Raiffeisenbank began testing facial recognition payments using PayByFace. Moreover, it was also named as one of 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10515">
 Mastercard&rsquo;s partners
 </a>
 to launch the latter&rsquo;s biometric payment terminals.&nbsp;&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10890">
 PayByFace received a strategic investment
 </a>
 from Indian FinTech infrastructure provider SafexPay (Safex) in May 2022. Safex also introduced PayByFace technology in India, starting with pilot projects with India-based multinationals. PayByFace planned to utilize the investment to accelerate the growth of its biometric payment solution, in addition to broadening its geographic presence.
 
</div>

PayByFace

<div>
 
 TouchToPay offers a biometric point-of-sale (POS) payment system for in-store and remote checkouts, using fingerprints to authenticate payments. Users must create an account with the TouchToPay system and register their credit card information. 
 
 
 Unlike many biometric POS terminals, TouchToPay uses fingerprints to complement PINs, rather than replace them, as its terminals require two-factor authentication.   
 
 
 The company also claims its system is enhanced against security threats such as hacking, since it uses mathematical algorithms corresponding to users’ fingerprints, in place of storing the full image of user fingerprints. In addition to payments, users also receive weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly reports on their expenses.  
 
</div>

TouchToPay

<div>
 
 SmartMetric develops biometric payment cards which use fingerprint identification to authenticate payments. The company claims its cards can scan and match fingerprints in under a second, and while it primarily caters to payments, the technology can also be used for access controls and identity verification.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 Unlike typical alternatives, SmartMetric&rsquo;s cards are powered through an internal rechargeable battery, as opposed to through the card reading machine. Therefore, users may not need to place their finger on the card while it is in the card reader, making it appropriate for use in restaurants and certain ATMs. The company announced in June 2023, that it is also 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19099">
 adding embedded AI
 </a>
 into the biometric payment cards to enhance card security and user applications, and in February 2024, the company introduced a biometric 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26384">
 credit card
 </a>
 (which began manufacturing 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/28614">
 in April 2024
 </a>
 ).
 
 
 
 
 Notably,&nbsp; the company had developed an anti-spoofing technology (by June 2021) &mdash; a prerequisite for global credit card network approval&mdash; which it claimed could differentiate between a live fingerprint and a fake one. SmartMetric introduced a secure element for crypto keys, covered by firewalled encryption, to enable cryptocurrency key storage for its biometric cards, in December 2020. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Although the company is based in the US, it has sales and marketing partnerships in Latin America and Europe as well.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 
 
 The biometric cards incorporate ServiRed&rsquo;s (Spanish payment card scheme with over 44 million cards in circulation) Advantis card chip operating system, as a result of a partnership entered into in February 2019.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 
 
 Accordingly, the company is yet to generate revenue and as of FY2023 (ending June), and reported an operating loss of nearly USD 810,000. However, it claims to have a manufacturing capacity of over a million cards a month.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 
</div>

SmartMetric

Companies that offer biometric POS terminals, including the complementing software that uses palm print, fingerprint, or finger veins for payment authentication.

Companies that offer biometric authentication software which can be embedded into smart devices or existing POS terminals, for payment authentication.

Companies that provide software platforms to authenticate remote transactions using biometrics, typically leveraging the biometric authentication provided in mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Companies that provide technology to enable fingerprint authentication on payment cards, such as fingerprint sensors, biometric algorithms, and card inlays.

Companies manufacturing biometric payment cards for issuers.

Leverages several biometrics as facial, iris, fingerprint, and palm vein recognition to authenticate payments

Biometrics are unique and therefore, authenticating payments using biometric features delivers personalization

AI/ML can be used to improve authentication accuracy and reduce false acceptances and rejections

VisionLabs

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