Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff Invests In Mobile Identity Start-up Averon

By MTS Staff Writer On Mar 22, 2018

Averon Closes New Funding Round Bringing Raise to $13.3 Million

Averon Welcomes Salesforce’s Marc Benioff to Its Family of Investors in Oversubscribed A1 Financing, Accelerating Growth for Averon’s Identity Solutions

Averon, developer of the world’s first mobile identity verification standard that is both automatically frictionless and ultra-secure, announced recently that it has closed a $5 million Series A1 financing round led by Avalon Ventures and Salesforce founder and CEO Marc Benioff. The round follows Averon’s heavily oversubscribed Series A (October 2017), also led by Avalon Ventures, bringing the full Series A amount raised to $13.3 million.

The funds will accelerate the expansion of Averon’s digital identity innovations, including the industry’s premier mobile authentication solution that works seamlessly whether users are on Wi-Fi or LTE (first introduced by Averon in 2017). The company’s groundbreaking work in mobile authentication is protected by 25 patents in the United States and worldwide, and the newly raised funds will also increase Averon’s team expansion and deepen its R&D in the field.

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“Averon provides the fastest, strongest mobile security in the world, and we’re proud that our innovations are disrupting the status quo of cybersecurity. We completely relieve the burden from end users while providing enterprise customers far superior security. Our solutions heal the cyber battle wounds suffered by every sector, from banking and healthcare to e-commerce. Our customers enjoy freedom and peace of mind, because users’ logins, purchases and entire digital life are always effortlessly protected while connected with Averon,” said Wendell Brown, Averon co-founder and CEO.

Through the company’s blockchain and cryptocurrency partnerships, fueled by an early investment from Digital Currency Group, Averon has also taken the lead in strengthening blockchain security. Averon’s patented techniques are impervious to man-in-the-middle attacks, social engineering and other forms of digital hijacking. Unique in the market, Averon’s solution leverages mobile carrier data signaling and hardware already in every smartphone combined with Averon’s proprietary blockchain technology to positively and instantly authenticate mobile users.

Lea Tarnowski

“Averon is the first cybersecurity platform built to combat fake news, election tampering, financial hacking, stolen email accounts, and cyberterrorism. From securing the blockchain to defending commerce and each individual’s privacy, Averon is helping craft the future of the internet as it should be — truly secure and accessible for everyone. In this way, Averon is establishing a more peaceful and secure online experience for all by fostering an authentically human-centered digital world,” said Lea Tarnowski, Averon co-founder, President and COO.

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Averon’s innovations empower virtually any company or organization offering services on the web to give their users the world’s most instantaneous, effortless cybersecurity user experience. Ideal for financial services, banking and mobile payments, as well as automotive, IoT and more, Averon relies on no identifiable personal data, making it the most private authentication platform available. It can also be combined with biometrics such as fingerprint and facial recognition methods to strengthen existing 2FA/MFA techniques.

Brady Bohrmann

Brady Bohrmann, Avalon Ventures managing director, added, “The pandemic of fraud and cybercrime shows that status quo solutions haven’t adequately protected people or businesses from these growing dangers. In an industry that over the past 20 years has barely made a dent in solving the crisis of digital identity, Averon is a beacon of hope providing the first solution to autonomously keep user data safe while inoculating against costly threats and opening new revenue streams. Equally exciting is the stellar roster of innovative talent assembled on Averon’s team, which is unsurpassed.”