What Smile ID does

Smile ID (legally Smile Identity) is an AI-native identity verification platform purpose-built for African and emerging markets, headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company provides digital KYC, biometric authentication, and AML screening to banks, fintechs, mobile money operators, ride-hailing platforms (Uber, Bolt), cryptocurrency exchanges (Binance), and BNPL providers (Payflex, Happy Pay, PayJustNow), with named wins at 4 of 5 top Nigerian banks and 3 of 4 South African BNPL leaders. Its core technology combines in-house computer vision, anomaly detection, and NLP models trained on African documents and faces, layered with device intelligence, network intelligence drawn from 400M+ verified identities, and government database verification; the platform achieves a 1-1.5% false rejection rate and covers 8,500+ ID types across 220 countries.

The product surface is organized into three core pillars — Onboarding, Authentication, and AML Screening — plus a module suite including Enhanced KYC, Biometric KYC, Document Verification, SmartSelfie Authentication/Compare, Smile Secure (biometric deduplication), Phone Number Verification, Electronic Signature, and Continuous AML Monitoring. All products are delivered via a REST API, mobile SDKs (iOS/Android), web SDK, and server-to-server libraries, with a self-serve developer portal supporting evaluation and integration. Supporting no-code tools (SmartCheck, Smile Links, Demo App) extend accessibility to non-developer use cases.

Smile ID operates an API-first, usage-based revenue model with enterprise contracts, complemented by an enterprise field sales motion targeting financial institutions. Distribution is amplified by an extended strategic partnership with Mastercard (including a 2025 minority investment) covering merchant onboarding across 50+ African countries. The company has raised approximately $27M in disclosed venture funding (Series A $7M in 2021, Series B $20M in 2023) and acquired Ghana-based Appruve in 2023 for up to $20M to strengthen West African presence. Compliance posture includes SOC 1, SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR certifications.

Name

Smile ID

Legal name

Smile ID

Website

https://usesmileid.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Smile ID is an AI-native identity verification platform serving banks, fintechs, mobile money operators, and ride-hailing platforms across Africa. It delivers KYC, biometric authentication, and AML screening via API, covering 8,500+ ID types across 220 countries with 400M+ checks completed.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Identity Verification and KYC/AML Compliance

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

akta.pro primary industry

Identity Verification & Proofing (IDV, KYC, Biometrics) (HDADAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Data, Evidence & Document Verification (IDV) for KYC (FSAMAMAN), Fraud Prevention & Identity Verification (IDV/KYC) (BPAMAEAI), Identity Verification & Digital ID (IDV, eIDAS, biometrics) (FSAGAFAA)

Keywords

• Identity verification platform
• KYC compliance solutions
• Biometric authentication services
• AML screening tools
• Digital fraud prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. API-based Identity Verification: Usage-based pricing for identity verification checks including KYC, biometric authentication, document verification, and AML screening. Pricing likely varies by verification type and volume with enterprise contracts available.
2. Enterprise Licensing: Enterprise agreements with banks, fintechs, and mobile money operators for access to identity verification platform with dedicated support and customization

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Smile ID sells an AI-powered identity verification platform that enables businesses to onboard, authenticate, and screen customers across African and emerging markets. The platform is delivered via REST APIs, mobile and web SDKs, and no-code tools, covering 8,500+ ID types across 220 countries with government database integration, biometric verification, fraud deduplication, and AML screening. It is sold to enterprises on a usage-based pricing model with custom enterprise contracts.

Product overview

Smile ID is an AI-native identity verification platform built for African and emerging markets, operating on a platform-plus-products architecture. The core platform provides three main product categories — Onboarding, Authentication, and AML Screening — which are enhanced by a suite of individual KYC products including Enhanced KYC, Basic KYC, Biometric KYC, Document Verification, Enhanced Document Verification, SmartSelfie™ Authentication, SmartSelfie™ Compare, Smile Secure (fraud deduplication), One Time AML, Phone Number Verification, and Electronic Signature. The platform covers 8,500+ ID types across 220 countries, with 400M+ identity checks completed. Supporting no-code tools include SmartCheck (internal verification portal), Smile Links (shareable verification flows), and a Demo App for testing. All products integrate via REST API, Mobile SDK, or Server-to-Server libraries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Onboarding Verifies new users using the right method for each market—government database checks where available, documents plus biometrics where required, custom combinations where compliance demands—delivered with risk-based scores throughout the flow. Targeted at financial institutions, fintechs, and platforms needing KYC-compliant onboarding.
• Authentication Re-verifies users at high-stakes moments including login, new device, password change, and transaction approval to stop account takeovers. Targeted at enterprises needing continuous biometric authentication for their existing user base.
• AML Screening Checks identities against 1,000+ global and local sanction lists, PEP (politically exposed persons), and adverse-media lists with built-in continuous monitoring. Targeted at regulated enterprises needing ongoing AML compliance.
• Enhanced KYC (Identity Lookup) Queries identity information for an individual using their ID number from supported ID types, returning personal information stored in the ID authority database. Available as synchronous (real-time) or asynchronous API; restricted to licensed organisations. Targeted at licensed financial institutions and regulated entities across 35+ African countries.
• Basic KYC Standard KYC product for verifying individuals against ID authority databases using ID numbers. Targeted at enterprises needing lightweight government database verification.
• Biometric KYC Verifies a user's identity using biometrics (selfie/liveness) combined with ID validation against government authority databases. Targeted at enterprises needing both biometric and government database verification.
• Document Verification Verifies the authenticity of identity documents submitted by users and confirms the document belongs to the user by comparing the user's selfie to the photo on the document. Requires a selfie, document image, document type, and country of issuance. Targeted at enterprises needing document-based identity verification without government database access.
• Enhanced Document Verification Cross-references document data with issuer records in addition to document authenticity verification, providing enhanced trust and accuracy beyond standard Document Verification. Targeted at regulated enterprises needing higher assurance document verification.
• Smile Secure Real-time fraud detection product that deduplicates facial biometrics and layers side-channel data to identify rogue users attempting to use multiple IDs. Automatically performs deduplication checks on every Biometric KYC, Document Verification, and SmartSelfie Authentication job with a default 30-day lookback. Targeted at enterprises needing to prevent duplicate and synthetic identity fraud.
• SmartSelfie Authentication Verifies a returning user's identity by comparing a newly captured selfie to a reference image already registered from a previous successful Biometric KYC, Document Verification, or SmartSelfie Compare job. Requires a pre-existing reference selfie. Targeted at enterprises needing passwordless biometric authentication.
• SmartSelfie Compare Matches and authenticates a genuine user's selfie with an existing photo on file (e.g., government authority image) in a single step, enrolling and authenticating the user simultaneously. Available via REST API with multipart/form-data submission. Targeted at enterprises needing combined enrollment and authentication.
• Phone Number Verification Low-friction identity verification product that verifies customer identities using their phone numbers. Currently available in Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda covering over 330 million phone numbers via REST API (synchronous and asynchronous endpoints). Targeted at enterprises needing lightweight verification in supported markets.
• One Time AML Check Screens customers against global watchlists, PEP lists, and adverse-media publications, returning whether screened customers are found on lists with corresponding details for risk assessment. One-time check with no updates provided when risks change. Available via REST API. Targeted at enterprises needing point-in-time AML screening.
• Electronic Signature Allows partners to upload documents for signing by end-users and have end-users sign uploaded documents. Supports SINGLE documents (signed once) and TEMPLATE documents (signed multiple times). Uses REST API and Web Embed integration. Targeted at enterprises needing integrated e-signature alongside identity verification.
• SmartCheck No-code internal verification tool for running verification jobs directly through a web portal interface. Designed for departments within organisations needing to perform internal verifications such as employee onboarding, customer due diligence, and compliance checks.
• Smile Links No-code tool for creating customised user verification flows shared via secure links. Allows generation of verification links with company branding, support for multiple ID types in a single link, and tracking through the Smile ID Portal.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% reduction in identity-related fraud
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• MastercardflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025Extended strategic commercial partnership combining Mastercard's global identity technology with Smile ID's local data verification and fraud detection capabilities. Mastercard made a minority investment in Smile ID. Partnership enables banks, fintechs, mobile money operators, and other enterprises to onboard customers faster while reducing identity fraud, supporting compliance with KYC/AML regulations. Aims to help onboard the next 300 million African users securely, building on earlier collaboration launched September 2024 for merchant onboarding across more than 50 African countries.
• Appruve (acquisition target)coreOthers · 26 April 2023Smile Identity acquired the parent company of Ghana-based ID verifier Appruve in a deal valued at up to $20 million, pending regulatory approval. Acquisition aims to expand Smile's identity verification services and strengthen market presence across Africa.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Onfido: Global identity verification provider offering document and biometric verification with KYC/AML compliance. Directly comparable to Smile ID's core KYC and document verification products, though Onfido operates primarily in Western markets while Smile ID specializes in Africa.
• Trulioo: Global identity verification network covering 195+ countries with KYC/AML capabilities. Directly comparable as a multi-jurisdictional IDV platform with emerging-market focus, though Trulioo's coverage breadth differs from Smile ID's African depth.
• GBG (GBG Group): Global identity verification and location intelligence provider serving regulated enterprises with KYC, AML, and fraud prevention. Comparable in regulated enterprise focus and AML/government database integration, though broader geographic footprint than Africa specialization.
• Jumio: Established global IDV platform providing AI-powered identity verification, biometric authentication, and AML screening. Overlaps with Smile ID's full platform including Onboarding, Authentication, and AML Screening product categories across enterprise customers.

Direct peers

• Prembly: Africa-headquartered identity verification, KYC/AML, and compliance platform. Direct competitor targeting the same African fintech and enterprise customer base with overlapping document verification, biometric, and AML screening capabilities.
• Sumsub: All-in-one identity verification, KYC/AML, and fraud prevention platform with global reach including emerging markets. Directly comparable in product breadth (onboarding, authentication, AML screening) and target customer profile across fintech and crypto exchanges.
• Persona: AI-powered identity verification platform offering configurable KYC, AML, and fraud prevention workflows via API. Comparable in API-first enterprise architecture, layered verification approach, and modular product structure serving digital-first customers.
• Dojah: Nigeria-focused identity verification and KYC platform serving African fintechs and banks. Direct regional competitor with overlapping customer verification, AML screening, and government database integration use cases.
• Veriff: AI-powered identity verification platform offering document verification, biometric authentication, and AML screening. Directly competes with Smile ID's core product suite with similar API-first architecture and enterprise customer focus.
• Youverify: Africa-focused identity verification and compliance platform serving fintechs and enterprises across multiple African countries. Most direct regional competitor, competing for the same banking, fintech, and mobile money operator customers as Smile ID.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/usesmileid

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors26 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smile ID