What Ideal Innovations does

Ideal Innovations, Inc. (I-3) is a privately held, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business founded in 1998 by former DARPA Program Manager Bob Kocher and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. The company delivers biometrics, forensics, science-and-technology, and IT services primarily to U.S. federal customers, including the Department of Defense (notably the Defense Forensic Science Center), FBI, DHS, USPS, and elements of the Intelligence Community. It operates across a broad portfolio of multi-award government contract vehicles (GSA MAS, OASIS+, RS3, Seaport NxG, FBI ITSSS-2) and embeds cleared personnel into customer environments, with one DFSC engagement alone drawing more than 90 staff.

The technical product set spans proprietary government-off-the-shelf software such as the Defense B-SDK biometric SDK, the National Access Control Center, the International Biometric Identification System, and mobile facial-recognition applications, alongside a growing adjacent line that includes the Handheld Integrated Targeting System (HITS) for counter-UAS and the Personal Warning Temperature (PWT) health-screening device. Through its Face Center of Excellence, I-3 was the first organization to receive ANAB accreditation for a biometric proficiency testing program (FIPT) and holds ISO 9001:2015 and ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certifications.

The business model is anchored on cost-plus and firm-fixed-price federal contract work, augmented by commercial revenue from biometric products routed through a subsidiary (Secure Planet, Inc.), health-screening products via Warning Temperature LLC, partnerships with NEC Corporation of America and Collaborative Testing Services, and subcontractor roles on larger prime contracts such as the Leidos Navy CME vehicle. With 251-500 employees and disclosed contract wins in aggregate exceeding $140M since 2022, the company is a mid-sized cleared-services prime with increasing productization of its sensing IP.

Name

Ideal Innovations

Legal name

Ideal Innovations, Inc.

Website

https://idealinnovations.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Ideal Innovations (I-3) is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small business that provides biometrics, forensics, science-and-technology, and IT services to U.S. federal agencies, holding multiple multi-award contract vehicles and operating the first ANAB-accredited facial identification proficiency testing program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Biometrics and Forensics Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation (BPAIAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Video Analytics & AI Security Solutions Integration (LPR, Facial, Behavior) (BPAKAGAK)

Keywords

• Biometrics services
• Forensic examination
• Facial identification
• Government contracting
• Identity management

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Professional Services: Prime contractor providing biometrics, forensics, and technical services to federal government agencies including DoD, FBI, DHS, and other federal clients. Revenue generated through various contract vehicles including GSA Schedules,IDIQ contracts, and direct awards.
2. Biometric Systems Development & Integration: Development and integration of next generation biometric systems for DoD and Intelligence Community, including identity management system support, ABIS support, systems integration, and operations
3. Forensic Examination Services: Laboratory operations, examination support, training, forensic research support, and quality assurance services to government organizations
4. Training & Proficiency Testing: Facial identification training courses and proficiency testing services, including ANAB-accredited Facial Identification Proficiency Test

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ideal Innovations (I-3) is a service-disabled veteran-owned technology company that provides biometrics, forensics, science and technology, and information technology services primarily to U.S. federal government defense, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies. Core offerings include ABIS development and operations support, multi-modal biometric software (Defense B-SDK), forensic laboratory operations and examination, facial identification training and ANAB-accredited proficiency testing, and IT/risk management services delivered through GSA and other government contract vehicles.

Product overview

Ideal Innovations, Inc. (I-3) is a service-disabled veteran-owned technology company established in 1998 that provides a portfolio of biometric, forensic, science and technology, and information technology services primarily to U.S. government defense and law enforcement customers. The core offerings consist of Biometric Services (ABIS support, software development including the Defense B-SDK, and multi-modal biometric solutions), Forensic Services (laboratory operations and examination across multiple disciplines), and the Face Center of Excellence (FaCE) which provides ANAB-accredited facial identification proficiency testing and training. Science and Technology Services encompass hardware/RF development, AI/ML for computer vision, counter-UAS, and rapid prototyping. Information Technology Services cover RMF, CCRI, cross-domain solutions, and COOP. Specialized products include a mobile facial recognition application for iOS/Android, the patented Handheld Integrated Targeting System (HITS) for counter-UAS, the Personal Warning Temperature (PWT) system for health screening, and online/onsite facial examination training courses. The company operates as a unified professional services organization rather than a modular software platform, offering its capabilities through various government contract vehicles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Face Center of Excellence (FaCE): I3's specialized center for facial identification training, proficiency testing, expert witness services, and on-demand comparison services.
• FaceCOE

Products and services

• Biometric Services
• Forensic Services
• Face Center of Excellence (FaCE)
• Science and Technology Services
• Information Technology Services
• Defense Biometric Software Development Kit (B-SDK)
• Mobile Facial Recognition Application
• Handheld Integrated Targeting System (HITS)
• Personal Warning Temperature (PWT) System
• Online Facial Examination Training Courses
• Facial Identification Proficiency Test (FIPT)

Quantifiable outcome

• Revenue growth of over 2,400% over three years, ranked #2 in U.S. government services industry on Inc. 500/5000 list
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NEC Corporation of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023NEC entered into an agreement with I3 to promote responsible use of face recognition technology. NEC is a leading provider and integrator of advanced IT, biometrics, communications, and networking solutions. The collaboration marks a significant step toward promoting responsible use of face recognition systems and enhancing the skills of professionals in the field.
• Collaborative Testing Services (CTS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023I3 and CTS announced a partnership for the creation and administration of Facial Identification Proficiency Testing (FIPT). CTS serves as the administrator of the program including enrollments, hosting the test, and distributing reports. I3 provides technical expertise through Lora Sims as Technical Director. CTS seeks to add the FIPT to their extensive list of accredited proficiency tests.
• Leidos, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2019I3 was awarded a Navy Cyber Mission Engineering (CME) contract as part of the Leidos, Inc. team. I3 supports America's warfighters by providing cyber mission engineering and information warfare support services across air, ground, maritime, cyber and space domains. The contract is a multiple-award, IDIQ contract with a shared ceiling of $898 million.
• Secure Planet, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn conjunction with its affiliate company Secure Planet, Inc., I3 recommends biometric products and provides customers with custom-developed solutions for identity management, access control, and standoff biometric identification by face, iris, heart and voice. The two companies exhibit together at industry conferences such as IACP.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NEC Corporation of America: Global leader in biometric and identity management technology and a formal partner of I3. NEC's NeoFace facial recognition platform directly overlaps with I3's facial recognition capabilities, and the two co-market responsible-use biometric solutions.
• IDEMIA: One of the largest global biometric identity solutions providers serving government, law enforcement, and border management. IDEMIA competes with I3 in DoD ABIS support, facial recognition, and identity management but at significantly larger scale.
• Aware, Inc. Specialized biometric software and SDK provider whose products (Knomi, BioSP) directly compete with I3's Defense B-SDK in the same DoD, intelligence, and law enforcement customer base for multi-modal biometric transaction processing.
• Intelligent Waves LLC: Service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) defense IT and cyber services contractor. Closely comparable to I3 in size, customer base (DoD/Intel Community), contract vehicles, and rapid-prototyping engineering culture.
• ManTech International: Mid-to-large defense IT and intelligence services contractor with overlapping capabilities in biometrics, forensics IT support, cyber, and C5ISR. ManTech competes with I3 on DFSC IT and biometric systems integration task orders.

Broad incumbents

• CACI International: Large federal IT and professional services prime with significant biometric, intelligence, and IT work for DoD. CACI competes with I3 across multiple contract vehicles and brings far larger scale and indirect-rate advantages.
• Leidos: Largest-tier defense and intelligence contractor and I3's formal teammate on Navy Cyber Mission Engineering. Leidos offers overlapping biometrics, intelligence, and forensics services as part of a much broader portfolio.
• Booz Allen Hamilton: Major federal consulting and technology integrator with deep DoD, FBI, and DHS work. Booz Allen's biometrics, identity, and forensic practices compete with I3 on enterprise-scale opportunities where I3 is sub-scale.
• Thales Group: Global defense and security prime with a sizable biometric and identity management business (Gemalto legacy). Thales competes with I3 in border/biometric programs and U.S. federal identity markets as part of a multi-segment portfolio.
• Parsons Corporation: Mid-to-large federal solutions contractor with adjacent defense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure work. Parsons competes with I3 in biometrics-adjacent and forensic-IT adjacent opportunities across DoD and Intel Community customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/idealinnovationsinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ideal-innovations-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/idealinnovationsinc
• Xx.com/i3incorporated

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Ideal Innovations