Keyo

What Keyo does

Keyo is a biometric authentication platform founded in 2017 that provides enterprise palm biometric identification through both hardware and software deployments. The company's core technology combines two biometric modalities — palm print patterns captured via high-resolution RGB cameras and subdermal palm vein patterns captured via near-infrared imaging — to create a dual-layer biometric ID. Multi-layer spoof detection (blood flow via hemoglobin interaction, 3D imaging, motion-based liveness) and on-device template encryption form the security architecture. Performance metrics disclosed include identification under two seconds and false acceptance rate as low as 0.00008%.

The product portfolio centers on the Wave+ palm scanner device running Keyo's WaveOS operating system, supported by the Keyo ID Vault (encrypted, cancelable biometric templates with 1:N matching), the App Hub (pre-built applications such as SwiftPass, Fizzcraft, Better Merch, and BioPay), a Sandbox for custom application development, Mobile App and Admin Dashboard, and REST APIs with developer documentation and Postman Collections. Keyo is developing a software-only deployment option (Keyo ID Hardware Certification) for running on customer-owned certified hardware.

The business model combines hardware sales (Wave+ at $499 per device) with recurring software subscriptions ($98/month or $780/year per device, required for device operation). Go-to-market is primarily direct enterprise field sales with custom orders for 100+ device deployments, supplemented by an API-first developer channel and event marketing (NRF). Target verticals include retail/QSR, healthcare, financial services, transit/stadiums, and education/smart campuses. Operating geographies span the U.S., Canada, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ecuador. Keyo has raised approximately $8M in disclosed funding, holds SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, CCPA, and BIPA compliance, and operates with 11-50 employees.

Name

Keyo

Legal name

Keyo, Inc.

Website

https://keyo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Keyo is a biometric authentication platform that uses dual-layer palm print and palm vein recognition to deliver touchless identity verification for enterprises. It sells Wave+ scanner hardware bundled with subscription software and developer APIs, serving retail, healthcare, financial services, transit, and education verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biometric Authentication Software

akta.pro primary industry

Biometric Input Devices (Fingerprint/Face/Iris Scanners) (HDACAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Device Fingerprinting & Behavioral Biometrics (FSAMALAL), Device Identity & Certificate-Based Authentication (PKI) (BPAMAEAL)

Keywords

• Palm biometrics
• Biometric authentication
• Identity verification
• Contactless payments
• Access control

Headquarters

HQ city

Palo Alto

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, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Keyo sells palm scanner hardware devices (Wave+) with a one-time purchase cost of $499 per device.
2. Software Subscription: Recurring SaaS subscription for software license required to operate Keyo devices. Priced at $98/month or $780/year. Subscription begins upon device activation and connectivity to internet.
3. Enterprise Software Licensing: Software-only deployment option where Keyo software runs on customer-certified hardware. Requires subscription license but device operates exclusively with Keyo software.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Keyo provides a biometric authentication platform that enables palm-based identification for enterprise customers. The company sells the Wave+ palm scanner hardware device for a one-time $499 price paired with a recurring software subscription ($98/month or $780/year) that unlocks the WaveOS platform, Keyo ID Vault, developer APIs, and pre-designed applications supporting payments, ticketing, access control, time and attendance, and loyalty use cases.

Product overview

Keyo is a biometric authentication platform offering a complete suite of palm biometric SaaS solutions consisting of enterprise-ready hardware and software. The product portfolio centers on the Wave+ palm scanner device running WaveOS, combined with the Keyo ID Vault (a secure biometric identity system with 1:N matching for large populations), Keyo App Hub (pre-designed applications), Keyo Sandbox (custom application development), Keyo Mobile App and Admin Dashboard (user and network management), and Integration APIs (for embedding into existing systems). Keyo supports use cases including payments, ticketing, access control, time & attendance, and loyalty programs, with both full-stack (hardware + software) and upcoming software-only deployment options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wave+ Palm Scanner Device Keyo's flagship advanced palm scanner hardware device featuring a touchscreen display and touchless biometric authentication, designed for enterprise deployments across payments, ticketing, access control, and identity verification use cases.
• Keyo Biometric Software Platform (WaveOS, ID Vault, APIs) Subscription-based biometric SaaS platform including the WaveOS operating system, the Keyo ID Vault for secure biometric template storage with 1:N matching, integration APIs, mobile app, and admin dashboard, required to operate Wave+ devices and sold on a recurring license basis.
• Keyo Branded Apps (App Hub) A marketplace of pre-designed palm-biometric applications for WaveOS devices, including SwiftPass, Fizzcraft, Better Merch, and BioPay, which can be instantly deployed for check-in, ID verification, and payments use cases or used as templates for custom branded apps.
• Keyo Custom / Branded App Development Service Custom application development service that builds branded palm-biometric applications on the Keyo Sandbox environment, tailored to specific enterprise requirements and use cases such as check-in and ID verification.

Quantifiable outcome

• Identification time under 2 seconds
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MashgincoreTechnology or Integration · 8 February 2024Mashgin teamed up with Keyo to integrate pay-by-palm technology for contactless checkout in retail and convenience store environments. The partnership enables Mashgin's autonomous checkout kiosks to accept palm biometric payments alongside traditional payment methods.
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationKeyo uses Stripe as its payment processing partner for facilitating payments made using Keyo devices. Stripe provides the underlying payment rails and transaction processing services.
• AWScoreTechnology or IntegrationAmazon Web Services serves as a cloud infrastructure provider for Keyo's data storage and processing needs, supporting the Keyo ID Vault and identity matching services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Amazon One: Amazon's palm-recognition payment and identity service deployed at Amazon Go, Whole Foods, and third-party retailers. Directly competes with Keyo on the same palm biometric modality for payments, loyalty, and access, with vastly greater capital and retail footprint.
• Fujitsu PalmSecure: One of the original palm vein biometric platforms, used in banking, healthcare, and government identity applications globally. Directly comparable to Keyo on palm vein technology, with a much longer deployment history and established enterprise customer base.
• PopID: PopID offers biometric (face and palm) payment and verification solutions for restaurants and retailers. Comparable to Keyo in deploying palm-based checkout, with stronger restaurant/QSR vertical penetration (e.g., Cali Group deployments).
• Redrock Biometrics: Provides palm print recognition technology as software for integration into existing camera-equipped devices. Closely comparable to Keyo's upcoming software-only deployment model, with a focus on leveraging commodity hardware rather than proprietary scanners.
• Veridium: Multi-modal biometric authentication provider (fingerprint, face, palm) focused on passwordless enterprise authentication. Directly comparable to Keyo's enterprise access control and workforce management use cases, with overlapping device-based deployment model.

Broad incumbents

• IDEMIA: Global identity and biometric solutions provider serving governments and enterprises with fingerprint, facial, and iris recognition. A broad incumbent whose biometric identity offerings overlap with Keyo's enterprise and government ambitions, particularly in secure credentialing.
• NEC Corporation (Biometric Solutions): Long-standing biometric identification vendor offering fingerprint, face, and iris recognition for border control, law enforcement, and civil identity. Overlaps with Keyo in large-population identity matching and is a potential competitor in enterprise and government deals.
• Thales (Digital Identity & Security): Thales provides biometric identity, authentication, and secure credentialing solutions across banking, government, and enterprise. Comparable to Keyo at the high end of the identity stack (vault, PKI, multi-factor) though with a much broader portfolio.
• Mastercard Biometric Checkout Program: Mastercard's program partnering with biometric providers (including PopID and Fujitsu) to enable biometric checkout at retail. Represents the payment-rails layer that Keyo's enterprise customers must integrate with, making Mastercard both a potential partner and a channel constraint.

Emerging players

• Telpo (Biometric POS): Manufacturer of biometric POS terminals including palm vein-enabled devices, primarily serving emerging markets. Comparable to Keyo on palm biometric hardware at the POS, though positioned more as an OEM hardware supplier than a software-identity platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KeyoApartments
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/keyo
• Instagraminstagram.com/onlykeyo

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors5 records

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Keyo