CardLab
CardLab designs and manufactures biometric smart cards with on-card fingerprint verification, backed by its QuardLock FIDO2 authentication platform, serving enterprise, government, defense, and healthcare customers globally from Denmark with manufacturing in Thailand.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersHerlev, Denmark
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CardLab does
CardLab Innovation ApS, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Herlev, Denmark, designs and manufactures biometric smart cards and a complementary backend authentication platform for enterprise and government customers. The company replaces password-based authentication with offline fingerprint verification, storing encrypted biometric templates and private keys within a secure element on the card so that fingerprint data never leaves the device during authentication. Its product portfolio includes four card variants (Access FIDO, Access Pro, Verity Card, Defender Card) supporting NFC, BLE, contact chip, and USB interfaces, plus the QuardLock backend platform (a wholly-owned subsidiary providing FIDO2/OTP authentication servers, APIs, Active Directory and Azure integration, and IAM orchestration), and the HardWallet Platform for custodial cryptocurrency wallets. Manufacturing is conducted at a wholly-owned facility in Thailand, with electronic circuit assembly outsourced to Asian partners outside China.
CardLab monetises through four streams: hardware sales of biometric cards, recurring SaaS revenue from the QuardLock platform (hosted, on-premise, or white-label), API integration and professional services, and licensing of the HardWallet Platform. The company sells via consultative enterprise field sales with quote-based multi-year contracts, supplemented by API-based integration partnerships and presence at industry events such as DALO Industry Days 2026 and Gitex Africa 2026. Named customers include Police & Sheriffs Press, Inc. (government-issued secure credentials) and Kvanto (elder/homecare compliance). The company holds over 100 active patents, FIDO2 certification, the EU Horizon Program Seal of Excellence, and is preparing for ISO 9001, CE, FCC, and UL certifications, with strategic alignment to GDPR, eIDAS 2.0, PSD3, and NIS2. CardLab is privately held, founder-led under CEO Frank Sandeløv, with no disclosed external funding rounds or institutional investors in the source material.
CardLab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CardLab
- Legal name
- CardLab Innovation ApS
- Website
- https://cardlab.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CardLab designs and manufactures biometric smart cards with on-card fingerprint verification, backed by its QuardLock FIDO2 authentication platform, serving enterprise, government, defense, and healthcare customers globally from Denmark with manufacturing in Thailand.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CardLab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biometric Smart Cards
- NAICS
- Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Authentication (MFA/Passwordless/Biometrics) Platforms (BPAMAEAE)
Keywords
Where CardLab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Herlev
- HQ country
- Denmark
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
CardLab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Biometric Smart Card Hardware Sales: Sale of biometric smart cards including Access FIDO, Access Pro, Verity Card, and Defender Card. Cards are produced at CardLab's own factory in Thailand with assembled electronic circuits outsourced to approved assembly houses in Asia (outside China).
- QuardLock Backend Platform (SaaS): Hosted or on-premise QuardLock authentication server for token verification, identity management, and FIDO2/OTP authentication services. Available as hosted cloud solution, on-premise installation, or white-label solution.
- API Integration and Professional Services: Integration services via API, customization and development services, and support for material and component qualification for lamination.
- HardWallet Platform Licensing: Platform licensing for devices equipped with secure element to create custodial wallets accessible through fingerprint authentication, targeting cryptocurrency and digital asset management.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise pricing based on volume and configuration |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
CardLab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CardLab designs, manufactures, and sells biometric smart cards with on-card fingerprint verification and a backend identity management platform (QuardLock). The hardware portfolio includes Access FIDO, Access Pro, Verity Card, and Defender Card, which replace passwords with offline biometric authentication for physical and digital access. The QuardLock backend provides token verification, FIDO2/OTP authentication, SSO, MFA orchestration, and integration with enterprise systems via API.
Product overview
CardLab offers a biometric authentication platform consisting of hardware smart cards and a backend authentication platform. The product portfolio includes four biometric card variants (Access FIDO, Access Pro, Verity Card, Defender Card), the HardWallet Platform for digital asset protection, and the QuardLock backend system comprising the Authentication Server, API, and System Configurator Tool. The cards store biometric templates and private keys offline on the card's secure element, while the QuardLock platform manages token verification, identity management, and integration with enterprise systems like Active Directory and Microsoft Azure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- QuardLock: Backend authentication platform for token verification and Identity Management systems, providing FIDO2 certified authentication server, SSO, MFA orchestration, and access management solutions.
- CardLab Access FIDO
- CardLab Access Pro
- CardLab Verity Card
- CardLab Defender Card
- HardWallet Platform
Products and services
- CardLab Access FIDO Card A FIDO certified combined physical and digital access card with NFC and BLE communication interface designed for password-free biometric access and logon. Uses fingerprint technology from Fingerprint Cards AB (FPC).
- CardLab Access Pro A batteryless card solution with a Secure Element to store functional applets. With onboard energy harvesting, it works with most NFC readers purely on energy harvesting.
- CardLab Verity Card Biometric one-time password card with rechargeable battery and small display, providing biometric OTP generation without compromise.
- CardLab Defender Card The most advanced CardLab card offering with a large display and rechargeable battery, providing a wide range of opportunities for authentication and access control including multi-factor authentication.
- HardWallet Platform A platform that can be integrated with devices equipped with a secure element, enabling the creation of custodial wallets accessible only through the user's authenticated fingerprint. Cryptographic operations are performed within the secure element.
- QuardLock API API solution for integrating QuardLock Authentication Server with customer solutions for passwordless authentication. Enables secure and inexpensive logon with verified customer identity.
- QuardLock System Configurator Tool Full platform for Access Identity Management, Active Directory integration, and more to unlock seamless security with passwordless authentication.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces Identity & Access Management costs by up to 60%
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CardLab
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CardLab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature9 records
CardLab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Fingerprint Cards AB (FPC)coreFPC provides fingerprint technology powering CardLab's Access FIDO biometric smart card. The partnership enables CardLab to integrate FPC's AllKey Software Platform for biometric authentication in enterprise settings, supporting passwordless and multi-factor security across physical and digital systems. Access FIDO is certified to FIDO2 standards.
- Police & Sheriffs Press, Inc.coreStrategic partnership to upgrade secure Government Issue card product line incorporating CardLab suite of technologies. Integration of CardLab technologies with Police & Sheriffs Press's patented Holoview and LaserLoc technologies creates a combined solution for government clients worldwide.
- QuardLockcoreQuardLock is a CardLab subsidiary providing state-of-the-art backend solutions for token verification and Identity Management systems. Offers QuardLock Authentication Server, QuardLock API, and System Configurator Tool for passwordless authentication.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CardLab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Yubico: Yubico is the leading vendor of FIDO2 hardware authentication keys (YubiKey) and is the most direct competitor to CardLab in phishing-resistant, hardware-rooted authentication for enterprise and government. Both target the same passwordless MFA use case, though Yubico's tokens are not biometric by default.
- HID Global: HID Global supplies secure identity credentials, smart cards, and physical access control solutions for enterprise and government. It is a direct comparable in physical/logical access cards, including higher-assurance credentials for the same buyer segments as CardLab.
- AuthenTrend: AuthenTrend produces biometric smart cards and FIDO2 authenticators aimed at enterprise passwordless authentication. It is a smaller direct competitor in the same niche as CardLab with comparable technology positioning.
- Zwipe: Zwipe develops biometric payment and access cards using on-card fingerprint verification — directly comparable technology to CardLab's biometric smart cards. It targets similar payment and access use cases and is one of the closest niche competitors.
Emerging players
- NEXT Biometrics: NEXT Biometrics makes large-area fingerprint sensor technology marketed for biometric cards and access control. It targets the same secure-authentication use cases as CardLab, particularly in payment and access card programmes.
- IDEX Biometrics: IDEX Biometrics provides fingerprint sensor technology and reference designs specifically for biometric smart cards, overlapping with CardLab's product category. It is a more upstream technology enabler rather than a vertically integrated card vendor.
- Token (Token Bio): Token builds biometric wearable authentication devices (rings) for passwordless enterprise access. It addresses the same phishing-resistant MFA market as CardLab with a different form factor and represents an alternative approach to the same end-customer problem.
Others
- NXP Semiconductors: NXP supplies the secure-element chips that underpin many biometric and FIDO smart cards, including components likely used in CardLab's products. It is an adjacent ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor, but its roadmap shapes the addressable market.
Broad incumbents
- Thales: Thales (via its Gemalto heritage) is a global incumbent in secure smart cards, identity credentials, and biometric government ID programmes. It overlaps with CardLab in the smart-card hardware and identity space, but as part of a much larger portfolio spanning payments, telecom, and defence.
- IDEMIA: IDEMIA is a global leader in biometric and identity solutions, including government-issued smart cards and secure credentials. It competes with CardLab in biometric card programmes for government, defence, and critical infrastructure, but at far greater scale and geographic reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CardLab social profiles
Digital presenceCardLab compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
CardLab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CardLab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
CardLab subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
CardLab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CardLab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CardLab
What does CardLab do?
CardLab designs, manufactures, and sells biometric smart cards with on-card fingerprint verification and a backend identity management platform (QuardLock). The hardware portfolio includes Access FIDO, Access Pro, Verity Card, and Defender Card, which replace passwords with offline biometric authentication for physical and digital access. The QuardLock backend provides token verification, FIDO2/OTP authentication, SSO, MFA orchestration, and integration with enterprise systems via API.
Is CardLab a public or private company?
CardLab is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CardLab founded?
CardLab was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CardLab based?
CardLab is headquartered in Herlev, Denmark, in the Europe region.
How does CardLab make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Biometric Smart Card Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are quardLock Backend Platform (SaaS), API Integration and Professional Services and hardWallet Platform Licensing.
Who are CardLab's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Yubico, HID Global, AuthenTrend and Zwipe. Emerging players are NEXT Biometrics, IDEX Biometrics and Token (Token Bio). NXP Semiconductors is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Thales and IDEMIA.
Does CardLab have an API?
Yes. The QuardLock API enables passwordless authentication integration for websites and online platforms. The system integrates with existing login solutions via API where the login token is communicated through NFC, BLE, contact chip, or by typing it on the login screen. The backend system verifies the token and grants access based on the user's assigned rights, supporting PC login to single sign-on solutions. Available as hosted or on-site solution.
What industry is CardLab in?
CardLab's product category is Biometric Smart Cards. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAEAE, Authentication (MFA/Passwordless/Biometrics) Platforms. Its NAICS code is 561621 and its SIC code is 3576.