ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS--(Marketwired - Nov 22, 2013) - EyeVerify http://www.eyeverify.com is the last U.S. company standing -- and now ready to take on the best startups from around the world in The Investment Battle -- the global final round of "Get in the Ring" 2013. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, host of the U.S. competition, Monday evening announced EyeVerify as the national winner.
Judges, including leaders of prominent incubators, accelerators and entrepreneurship organizations from across the nation, reviewed the applications and video submissions of 283 entrants nationwide and then 40 semifinalists, narrowing the field to eight finalists. EyeVerify was awarded $10,000 as the top US finisher as well as selected as the "audience favorite."
In addition to the cash prize, EyeVerify was crowned U.S. champion and CEO Toby Rush is traveling expense-paid to the Nov. 22 Get in the Ring global finals in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. There EyeVerify will compete with seven other international finalists, selected from 30 participating nations, for a chance to secure angel investment from a potential pool of EUR 1,000,000, or approximately $1.4 million.
Chris Barnett, EyeVerify EVP, said one of the reasons they won was because Rush explained their story better than the competitors. "Plus substantively we have a couple of points about our technology that are unique: it's patented, the whole category is patented. Nobody else can do Eyeprints but EyeVerify," he said. "Secondly, the pain point that we solve -- passwords and security -- is a pain point that every single person feels if they have a phone or computer. Many startups have solutions that are applicable to a niche market segment. But everybody feels our pain and says, 'save me!' Also, the market opportunity for EyeVerify is tremendous. When you look at the use cases where people need secure authentication or a password, then you look at the 10-15 ways customers can apply our technology, and everyone gets it. There's a whole buffet of market opportunities and audience members gravitate to the one that speaks to them the most."
Get in the Ring was founded in 2009 by the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship in the Netherlands to bring the world's most promising entrepreneurs together with those who can help them succeed and to inspire others to start their entrepreneurial journeys. The international finals are held each November during Global Entrepreneurship Week.
For full details about Get in the Ring: The Investment Battle, visit http://www.eur.nl/ondernemerschap/get_in_the_ring/
Stay "in the know" by following EyeVerify at @eyeverify, @GITR_GEW and #GITR13.
About Us:
EyeVerify is the exclusive provider of Eyeprint Verification, a highly accurate biometric for mobile devices. Eyeprint Verification delivers a password free mobile experience and secure authentication at a glance. This patented solution uses existing cameras on smartphones to image and pattern match the blood vessels in the whites of the eye. http://www.eyeverify.com
Contact Information:
Denise Myers
913-485-4585
denise.myers@eyeverify.com