Synolo Biometrics

What Synolo Biometrics does

Synolo Biometrics, Inc. is a privately held US biometrics company (founded 2021; headquartered in San Diego) that builds fingerprint capture hardware and software purpose-built for identifying individuals from birth through adulthood. Its core product is the Synolo Neo, a non-contact fingerprint scanner with 3000 PPI native imaging resolution, proprietary age-correction algorithms, and FBI PIV single-finger certification (granted 2025). In 2025 the company added a Contact Top accessory, making the Neo a dual-mode device capable of both non-contact and contact capture. Underlying technology was developed at UC San Diego with a $5M Gates Foundation grant in 2017.

The company sells hardware (Synolo Neo scanner), licenses an SDK for OEM integration with national ABIS systems, and runs proof-of-concept studies for enterprise and government customers. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales targeting government identification programs, hospitals, clinics, and schools with a channel partner model: three Brazilian distributors (Golden Distribuidora, Montreal, Techmag) were signed in 2025 to support a Latin America commercial launch that began December 2024. Notable commercial relationships include a POC study with NEC (2023) at a major South American hospital (~500 infants enrolled at birth) and multi-year academic studies with CITeR/Clarkson University covering ~300 children from birth to age 15. The technology has been validated in peer-reviewed research, including a prospective trial in Nature Scientific Reports (494 children, 19-month follow-up) and an independent Clarkson study (254 children). Primary customer segments are government civil identification programs, healthcare providers (maternity wards for newborn ID and vaccination tracking), and biometric system integrators; Synolo also markets to educational institutions for child identification and protection programs.

Name

Synolo Biometrics

Legal name

Synolo Biometrics, Inc.

Website

https://synolobiometrics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Synolo Biometrics builds the Synolo Neo, a non-contact fingerprint scanner with proprietary age-correction algorithms and FBI PIV certification, purpose-built for identifying individuals from birth to adulthood. The company sells hardware, an OEM SDK, and POC services to government identification programs, hospitals, and biometric system integrators across the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biometric Hardware

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Infant biometric identification
• Non-contact fingerprint scanners
• Biometric SDK integration
• Civil identification systems
• Newborn fingerprint capture

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - Synolo Neo Scanner: Sale of the Synolo Neo fingerprint scanner device with interchangeable tops for contact and non-contact capture. The device targets government identification programs, hospitals, clinics, and schools.
2. SDK Licensing and Integration: SDK available for integration with customer biometric systems, enabling OEM integration with existing ABIS infrastructure worldwide.
3. Enterprise POC Studies: Proof-of-concept studies conducted with enterprise customers like NEC to demonstrate technology effectiveness before full deployment.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Synolo Biometrics develops, manufactures and sells the Synolo Neo, a patented non-contact fingerprint scanner engineered to capture and match fingerprints from birth to adulthood using 3000+ PPI optics and proprietary age-correction algorithms. The company also provides an SDK for OEM integration with national ABIS platforms and conducts proof-of-concept studies with government and enterprise customers. Its technology is currently deployed across US, Europe, Middle East and LATAM for civil identification, newborn healthcare identification and child protection programs.

Product overview

Synolo Biometrics offers a single unified product portfolio centered on the Synolo Neo fingerprint reader, which is specifically engineered for infant biometric identification from birth to adulthood. The Neo is a non-contact fingerprint scanner that incorporates patented imaging technology, high-resolution optics, and proprietary age-correction algorithms. An optional Contact Top accessory enables dual-mode operation for both contact and non-contact capture. The company also provides an SDK for OEM integration, allowing the Neo to connect with customer biometric systems and national ABIS platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Synolo Neo Fingerprint Reader A specialized fingerprint reader specifically designed for capturing and matching fingerprints from birth to adulthood, used by government identification programs, hospitals, clinics and schools for newborn and child biometric enrollment.
• Synolo Neo Contact Top An interchangeable contact-mode top for the Synolo Neo that adds traditional contact-based fingerprint capture to the device, sold as an accessory to expand capture modes for infants, children and adults.
• Synolo SDK Software Development Kit licensed to biometric system integrators and enterprise OEMs to embed Synolo Neo fingerprint capture and age-corrected template generation into customer biometric systems and national ABIS platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 494 children successfully enrolled from birth and matched over 19 months in Nature Scientific Reports clinical trial
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered regional, major, core and institutional.

• Golden DistribuidoraregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 September 2025Commercial partnership with established biometrics provider in Brazil to expand market access to Synolo Neo fingerprint scanner for newborns, infants and children.
• MontrealregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 September 2025Commercial partnership with established biometrics provider in Brazil to expand market access to Synolo Neo fingerprint scanner for newborns, infants and children.
• TechmagregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 September 2025Commercial partnership with established biometrics provider in Brazil to expand market access to Synolo Neo fingerprint scanner for newborns, infants and children.
• NECmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Major global company with 110,000 employees and operations in 50 countries conducted a POC study using Synolo Neo. Short term study (1-2 months) at major hospital in South America collected fingerprints from ~500 infants at birth.
• CITeR and Clarkson UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022POC study at NY hospitals, clinics and schools with ~300 infants/children covering birth to 15 years old. Multi-year study conducted by CITeR and Clarkson University, independent of Synolo, tested system across 254 children.
• UC San DiegocoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Patented imaging technology developed at UC San Diego under Gates Foundation grant. Pilot study led by UCSD team validated non-contact high resolution fingerprint device could successfully identify 500 newborns and infants in hospital setting.
• NISTinstitutionalTechnology or IntegrationInstitutional partner listed on company website as part of partner ecosystem supporting infant biometrics research and standards.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dermalog Identification Systems: Dermalog is a German biometrics company specializing in fingerprint, face, and iris recognition for government ID, border control, and civil registration. A direct peer in civil identification biometric capture devices and national-scale identity programs.
• Suprema Inc. Suprema is a leading provider of fingerprint and facial biometric devices for access control and identification, with strong government and enterprise distribution. Directly comparable as a fingerprint biometric hardware specialist serving civil and enterprise identification markets.
• Aware Inc. Aware provides biometric SDKs, matching algorithms, and identity management software for government and commercial applications. A direct peer in biometric software and SDK licensing for ABIS integration, paralleling Synolo's SDK go-to-market approach.
• Innovatrics: Innovatrics provides biometric algorithms (fingerprint, face, iris) and ABIS software used in civil ID, law enforcement, and commercial applications. Comparable as a biometric identification technology provider serving similar government and enterprise customers, though primarily software/algorithm focused.
• Fingerprint Cards AB: Fingerprint Cards is a Swedish biometrics company specializing in fingerprint sensor and algorithm technology, primarily for mobile and consumer applications. Comparable as a fingerprint biometric technology specialist, though focused on different form factors and price points.
• NEC Corporation: NEC is a global leader in biometric identification technologies (NeoFace, fingerprint matching) and has been an active POC partner of Synolo, deploying the Synolo Neo in a major South American hospital study. NEC's biometrics business is one of Synolo's most direct comparables and a likely integration partner.

Broad incumbents

• HID Global: HID Global (part of ASSA ABLOY) is a major provider of biometric identity solutions including fingerprint readers and identity management systems, serving government, healthcare, and enterprise markets. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering fingerprint biometric capture devices across multiple end markets.
• Thales Group (Digital Identity & Security): Thales is a major global provider of identity and biometric solutions for governments, border agencies, and enterprises, including civil ID programs. As a broad incumbent in the same target market (civil identification, e-government), Thales is a key strategic comparator.
• IDEMIA: IDEMIA is the world's largest provider of biometric-based identity solutions, serving civil ID, border control, and law enforcement markets globally. As a broad incumbent in the same civil identification space that Synolo targets, IDEMIA is the most likely strategic acquirer or large-scale competitor.

Emerging players

• BIO-key International: BIO-key provides biometric identification software and hardware for civil ID, law enforcement, and enterprise access control. A smaller, publicly-traded biometrics player with overlapping customer segments in civil identification, though with broader product portfolio and different geographic focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/synolo-biometrics

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Synolo Biometrics