Simprints
TypeNonprofit
IndustryTechnology
FounderAlexandra Grigore
Toby Norman
Daniel Storisteanu
Tristram Norman
HeadquartersUniversity of Cambridge
ProductsBiometric fingerprint
Websitewww.simprints.com Edit this on Wikidata

Simprints is a nonprofit technology company originating at the University of Cambridge.[1] The company builds biometric fingerprint technology for use by governments, NGOs, and nonprofits for people in the developing world who lack proof of legal identity.[2] The company promotes a portable biometric system designed for front line workers.[3] The technology uses Bluetooth to connect to an Android mobile device that is interoperable with existing mHealth systems such as CommCare, ODK, or DHIS2.[4]

History

Simprints emerged in May 2012 out of a hackathon organised by the Centre for Global Equality and sponsored by technology company Arm.[5][6] The founders of Simprints include Gates-Cambridge scholars Alexandra Grigore,[7] Toby Norman, and Daniel Storisteanu[8] as well as Royal Holloway-University of London student Tristram Norman.[9]

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).[10][11][12] This funding was partially matched by Arm ltd, a Cambridge based semiconductor and software company.[13] 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.[4][5][12][14][15][16][17]

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.[18]

In 2016, Simprints developed their first production-ready biometric scanner known as Vero. It is IP65 rated and CE/FCC certified.[19] Simprints software architecture also conforms to EU Data regulation.[20]

In 2016, Simprints won a $200,000 grant from the Global Innovation Fund.[21]

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.[22][23][3]

In 2019, Simprints announced that 3000 units of the Vero 2.0 would be shipped in early 2020.[9]

During the COVID-19 pandemic Simprints changed its strategy from humanitarian work to focus on government clients. This lead to 40% of the company quitting.[24]

Affiliations

As of January 2023, Simprints' partners and financial supporters include:[25]

Non-current partners and supporters include the Electric Power Research Institute,[32] Grand Challenges Canada[22] and Impact Network.[33]

References

  1. ↑ "Accelerate alumni". Cambridge Judge Business School. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  2. ↑ "The World Bank - Identification for Development (ID4D) Global Dataset".
  3. 1 2 3 "How biometrics is giving identities to 'invisible citizens'". CNN International.
  4. 1 2 Storisteanu, Daniel Matthew L; Norman, Toby L; Grigore, Alexandra; Norman, Tristram L (2015-03-02). "Biometric Fingerprint System to Enable Rapid and Accurate Identification of Beneficiaries". Global Health: Science and Practice. 3 (1): 135–137. doi:10.9745/GHSP-D-15-00010. ISSN 2169-575X. PMC 4356282. PMID 25745127.
  5. 1 2 "Verifying a Need: SimPrints wades into 'identification crisis' in health care, seeking global scale - NextBillion". NextBillion. 2014-10-15. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  6. ↑ "Simprints- IdeaSpace". IdeaSpace. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  7. ↑ "Profile". Gates Cambridge. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  8. ↑ "Profile". Gates Cambridge. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  9. 1 2 "Simprints identifies cloud as foundation for biometrics-led healthcare". diginomica. 2020-02-07. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  10. ↑ (GH/AA/GHI), Clune, Karen. "Round 4 Award Nominees: 30 Awards Announced | Saving Lives at Birth". savinglivesatbirth.net. Retrieved 2018-05-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ mandy (2015-03-09). "Recognition grows for SimPrints". Gates Cambridge. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  12. 1 2 3 "Startup Simprints wins $250,000 from Gates Foundation for 'game-changing' invention". CJBS Insight. 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  13. ↑ "ARM takes SimPrints cash haul to half a million | Business Weekly | Technology News | Business news | Cambridge and the East of England". www.businessweekly.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  14. ↑ Storisteanu, Daniel M.L; Norman, Toby L; Grigore, Alexandra; Labrique, Alain B (2016-11-01). "Can biometrics beat the developing world's challenges?". Biometric Technology Today. 2016 (11): 5–9. doi:10.1016/S0969-4765(16)30193-X. ISSN 0969-4765.
  15. ↑ "Biometric Solutions to Identification Challenges". BORGEN. 2016-10-14. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  16. 1 2 "SimPrints wins £250,000 from Gates Foundation to develop fingerprint scanner". BiometricUpdate. 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  17. ↑ alex.corr (2015-03-06). "Digital healthcare". Gates Cambridge. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  18. ↑ mandy (2014-06-12). "SimPrints to pilot in Bangladesh". Gates Cambridge. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  19. ↑ "Simprints Vero Scanner | therefore". therefore.com. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  20. ↑ "The Case For Better Privacy Standards" (PDF). Simprints.
  21. ↑ "Simprints". Global Innovation Fund. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  22. 1 2 3 Kapil, Vinesh. "Fifteen Innovators Get Funding from Saving Lives at Birth | Saving Lives at Birth". savinglivesatbirth.net. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  23. 1 2 3 "ARM backs Simprints $2.45m funding boost to prevent maternal and child deaths | Business Weekly | Technology News | Business news | Cambridge and the East of England". www.businessweekly.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  24. ↑ Gonzalez, | Bianca (2023-12-06). "Simprints non-profit biometrics growth dilemma now on Harvard Business curriculum | Biometric Update". www.biometricupdate.com. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  25. ↑ "Our Partners". Simprints Technology. Archived from the original on 2023-01-02. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  26. ↑ "Simprints $2m funding win". Arm Community. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  27. ↑ "Therefore- vero".
  28. ↑ "COHESU.org | Home". COHESU.org | Home. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  29. ↑ "Simprints | DRK Foundation | Supporting passionate, high impact social enterprises". www.drkfoundation.org. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  30. ↑ "Simprints - Global Innovation Fund". Global Innovation Fund. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  31. ↑ "Identity in a digital age" (PDF). USAID.
  32. ↑ cknowle. "Neonate Biometric Scanner for Frontline Health Workers | Saving Lives at Birth". savinglivesatbirth.net. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  33. ↑ "The Power of Partnership". Impact Network. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
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