Unike Technologies pivots biometric tech to address post pandemic life and secures investment

Brazilian biometrics startup Unike Technologies led by André Barretto has secured an investment of R$3 million (roughly US$586,000), which the company has used to develop contactless biometric solutions for post COVID-19 use, writes Revista Pegn.

A serial entrepreneur, Barretto aims for his frictech solutions, focused on face and voice recognition to reduce friction in payments, to be adopted in multiple industries. Frictech solutions have so far been implemented by three customers including DHL and education group Anima to allow users to enter a building or make a payment through a facial scan. By the end of the year, Barretto’s goal is to increase the customer pool from three to 30.

The company had previously received an additional R$2 million (roughly $390,000) investment. Other products Unike has developed include online entrance exams and remote training identification, and hardware for a camera-equipped tablet that takes people’s temperature and verifies mask use.

Unike wants to get more involved in healthcare and is developing a project that analyzes voices and coughs for COVID-19 contagion with biometric recognition.

After learning about biometrics for identification during his time as innovation director at Serasa Experian, Barretto built Unike Technologies together with entrepreneurs Anders Hartington and Daniel Fonseca. He has been involved in various biometrics-related projects, including the use of fingerprints and government data to provide credit, and starting a biometric vertical at Certisign.

“There were also several companies with the desire to authenticate their customers, such as health plans and telecommunications giants,” Barretto told the publication.

The story of Unike Technologies goes back to Silicon Valley where Barretto first co-founded ZigPay for biometric payments through cameras installed at events. In May 2019, it became Unike Technologies under Blockbar, another company built by Barretto.

Article Topics

access management  |  biometric identification  |  biometric payments  |  biometrics  |  Brazil  |  contactless biometrics  |  facial recognition  |  startup  |  voice recognition