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Simprints
Company typeNonprofit
IndustryTechnology
FounderAlexandra Grigore
Toby Norman
Daniel Storisteanu
Tristram Norman
HeadquartersUniversity of Cambridge
ProductsBiometric identification tools
Websitewww.simprints.com Edit this on Wikidata

Simprints is a nonprofit technology company originating at the University of Cambridge.[1] The company builds biometric identification tools and contactless face scanning solutions to be used by governments, NGOs, and nonprofit organisations serving people in low- and middle-income countries who lack proof of legal identity.[2][3] The company promotes a portable fingerprint and face biometric system designed for front-line workers delivering at the last mile.[4][5] The technology uses Bluetooth to connect to an Android mobile device that is interoperable with existing mHealth systems such as CommCare, ODK, or DHIS2.[6]

History

[edit]

Simprints emerged in May 2012 out of a hackathon organised by the Centre for Global Equality and sponsored by technology company Arm.[7][8] The founders of Simprints include Gates-Cambridge scholars Alexandra Grigore,[9] Toby Norman, and Daniel Storisteanu[10] as well as Royal Holloway-University of London student Tristram Norman.[11]

In 2014, the firm received a Round 4 Saving Lives at Birth Seed Grant, part of a Grand Challenges competition supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of Norway, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada (funded by the Government of Canada), and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID).[12][13][14] This funding was partially matched by Arm ltd, a Cambridge based semiconductor and software company.[15] This provided for a pilot study in partnership with BRAC and the Johns Hopkins Global mHealth Initiative to test the system with health workers in Gaibandha, Bangladesh.[6][7][14][16][17][18][19]

In 2015, Simprints received another grant from Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Board) to move prototypes to the pre-production phase and develop and verify all software. This enabled the firm to launch a pilot project with BRAC which later manifested in a formal partnership.[20]

In 2016, Simprints developed their first production-ready biometric scanner known as Vero. It is IP65 rated and CE/FCC certified.[21]

In 2016, Simprints won a $200,000 grant from the Global Innovation Fund.[22]

In 2017, the firm won a Round 7 Saving Lives at Birth Transition to Scale grant for $2 million to scale up Simprints partnership with BRAC’s maternal health program to reach 2 million expectant mothers and children in Bangladesh.[23][24][4]

In 2019, Simprints announced that 3000 units of the Vero 2.0 would be shipped in early 2020[11]

In April 2022, Simprints enrolled over 2 million people with its biometric technology.[25]

At the end of 2023, Simprints made its Android application available on GitHub, making it one of the world’s first fully open-source biometric ID solutions for last-mile delivery with advanced privacy engineering.[26]

Published Literature

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In October 2023, Simprints was featured in a Harvard Business School Case Study entitled ‘Toby Norman: Is passion enough for Simprints to thrive?’. The case, written by Professor Jon Jachimowicz, is an in-depth look at the Simprints story and has become part of the core curriculum for all first-year Business students in the LEAD programme at Harvard.[27]

In May 2023, Simprints launched the ‘Responsible Biometric Deployment Handbook’, funded by IBM. The project was supported with a grant from the Notre Dame-IBM Technology Ethics Lab, the applied arm of the Notre Dame Technology Ethics Center. The guide provides tools to explore the ethical and secure adoption of biometric technology in frontline humanitarian and development settings.[28]

Awards and Recognitions

[edit]
Year Award Subject Outcome Ref
2014 Saving Lives at Birth Grand Challenge Simprints Won [29]
2015 UNICEF + TechCrunch Award for ‘Best Tech: Changing Children’s Lives for Good’ Won [30]
Business Weekly Awards Startup Company of the Year Won [31]
2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 Entrepreneur List Toby Norman (CEO) Won [32]
Tristram Norman Won [33]
Dan Storisteanu Won
$200,000 grant from the Global Innovation Fund Simprints Won [34]
2017 Core77 Design for Social Impact Award Simprints and Smart Design Won [35]
Schwab Social Entrepreneur of the Year Toby Norman (CEO) Won [36]
Round 7 Saving Lives at Birth Transition to Scale Grant Simprints Won [37]
2018 GLG Social Entrepreneur Fellowship Toby Norman (CEO) Won [38]
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance INFUSE ‘Pacesetter’ Simprints Won
2019 The World Bank’s Mission Billion Challenge - Top Prize Won [39]
2020 Elevate Prize Foundation Award Alexandra Grigore (CPO) Won [40]
MIT Solve 'Health Security and Pandemics' Challenge for 'Biometrics for Vaccine Delivery' Simprints Won [41]
FT/IFC Transformational Business Award: ‘Transformational Solutions in Health, Wellness and Disease Prevention’ Won [42]
COVIDaction Data Challenge Award Won [43]
10 Best Workplaces in Tech (Small) Won [44]
24 Best Workplaces (Small) Won [45]
2021 Innovations in Healthcare ‘Innovator Network’ Won [46]
Great Place to Work 2021 Won [47]
2022 World Food Programme Digital Health Innovation Accelerator Won [48]
Great Place to Work 2022 Won [49]
60 Best Workplaces for Women Won
2023 Great Place to Work Certified Company Won [50]
Flexa Pioneer Award Tara Clarkson, Simprints Chief of People & Culture Won [51]
Top organisations to escape to list by Escape the City Simprints Won [52]
2024 Flexa Certified Flexible Company Won [53]
2024 Responsible Tech Organisations List Won [54]
Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplaces by Newsweek Won [55]
Top Most Loved Workplaces® for Young Professionals Won [56]
UK's Best Workplaces for Women Won [57]
UK's Best Workplaces for Wellbeing Won [58]

Affiliations

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As of January 2023, Simprints' partners and financial supporters include:[59]

References

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