Voatz raises $7M to increase accessibility and footprint of biometric and blockchain voting app

Biometric mobile voting company Voatz has raised $7 million in a Series A funding round, which it plans to use to enhance the accessibility and usability of its technology, and grow its footprint by launching new pilot programs with states, cities, and international jurisdictions, according to a company announcement.

The round was led by Medici Ventures and Techstars, with additional participation by Urban Innovation Fund and Oakhouse Partners. Voatz has now raised a total of $9.3 million.

“We are delighted and grateful for the continued support of our existing and new investors to help us accelerate the development and deployment of our technology,” comments Voatz Co-founder and CEO Nimit Sawhney. “We are committed to the steady progress of mobile voting backed by blockchain technology to improve our election infrastructure and make remote voting more accessible and safer.”

Voatz uses blockchain and encryption technology along with biometrics to provide convenient, secure, and auditable election systems. It was used for active military and overseas voters in a pilot project by the City of Denver earlier this year. It has also been used in 24 of West Virginia’s 55 counties for absentee ballots, as well as by state political parties, universities, labor unions, church groups, and nonprofits to conduct elections.

“Voting is a great application of blockchain technology,” says Medici Ventures President Jonathan Johnson. “What Voatz is doing to allow more registered voters to participate remotely in elections in a safe and secure way is important. It bodes well for more widespread adoption of the Voatz application. That’s one reason we’ve increased our investment in the company by leading this Series A round.”

The most recent Denver elections were concluded June 4, and post-election audits will soon begin, Sawhney told TechCrunch. Sawhney says more pilot programs will be announced later this summer.

Voatz participated in the Techstars Boston Accelerator in 2017, and Techstars Partner Cody Simms will join the Voatz board of directors as part of the funding round.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  blockchain  |  funding  |  mobile app  |  Voatz  |  voting