SELF-SOVEREIGN IDENTITY INCUBATOR

Give your self-sovereign identity solution a jump-start with our dedicated 12-week startup incubator. The next cohort begins Spring 2020. Accepted companies will receive $180,000 in funding to take their solutions to market.

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Application Deadlines

Thank you for your interest in applying to the SSI Incubator.

The deadline to be considered for our Fall 2019 cohort has passed, but we are continuing to review applications for our Spring 2020 cohort.

Please feel free to request an application using the webform beside.

Request an Application

The SSI Incubator is currently accepting applications from startups for the March 2020 funding cycle.

SSI Incubator

Giving self-sovereign identity startups a jump-start! Providing interoperable tech resources & education from the Sovrin Foundation & funding from Hard

Building the Future of SSI from the Ground Up

SSI Incubator facilitates the creation of the next generation of SSI-based companies of all kinds, in all markets.

Build out a proof of concept with the world’s leading open source SSI technologists
Tangible takeaways: POC, product demo, pitch deck, community connections
Rapid prototyping on SSI technology, along with help from experts in the open-source code base community

Startups work directly with the nonprofit Sovrin Foundation, a vendor-neutral leader in blockchain-based, self-sovereign digital identity.

Custom incubator curriculum covering all aspect of your business
Exclusive access to Sovrin Foundation executive leadership and their networks for mentorship and advice
Introductions to leadership and developers across the SSI vendor landscape

Participants receive the custom, comprehensive tools and resources they need to grow their specific SSI solution.

Funding to grow your business while working in San Francisco’s most premier office location
Business development guidance, including marketing and financial planning support
Join a global community of SSI leading companies

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Meet the #SSII2019 Cohort

Domi

Berlin, Germany
Digital passports for landlords and tenants that would create a fairer rental market.

Spaceman ID Inc

Chicago, Illinois, United States
Tools for companies to easily implement private, secure, and portable digital credentials.

MetaDigital Inc

Toronto, Canada
An Intelligent Healthcare Platform that would eliminate medical prescription and insurance claim fraud with real-time digital verification.

HearRo

Los Angeles, California, United States
Blockchain Powered Phone System for Trusted, Effortless Communication

Xertify

Bogotá, Colombia
A network where people and institutions can exchange trusted information based on blockchain technology.

What We Do

The mission of SSI Incubator is to facilitate the creation of the next generation of SSI-based companies of all kinds, and in all markets. The incubator provides industry-leading technological guidance and business development expertise that will strengthen the SSI community by building a robust, interoperable, and technology-agnostic ecosystem.

SSI Incubator brings together the most promising SSI early-stage companies in what will be the most exciting SSI collaboration in the world.

We’ll happily consider startups with nothing more than an idea. And we’ll consider companies that already have significant revenue from POC’s, pilots, or commercial SSI products and services.

As long as the startup is committed to innovating with SSI, we’ll consider companies solving problems from all industries, ranging from network enhancements to consumer or enterprise facing projects and everything in between. Our goal is to promote a diverse and interoperable SSI ecosystem.

PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT

SSI Incubator Partners

Sovrin Foundation

The Sovrin Foundation is a nonprofit organization established to administer the Governance Framework governing the Sovrin Network, a decentralized global public network enabling self-sovereign identity on the internet. The Sovrin Network is an open source project operated by independent Stewards and uses the power of a distributed ledger to give every person, organization, and thing the ability to own and control their own permanent digital identity.

GO TO SOVRIN

Hard Yaka

Hard Yaka is an investment firm focused on digital identity, payments, and marketplaces co-founded by Greg Kidd, an initial investor and advisor for both Twitter and Square. Hard Yaka has investments in over 90 companies including Ripple, Coinbase, Robinhood, Dwolla, and globaliD, where Greg is the co-founder and CEO.

GO TO HARD YAKA

Frequently Asked Questions

Are only SF-based companies eligible to apply to SSI Incubator?

No, companies from anywhere are eligible.

Do I have to implement SSI technology to apply?

The purpose of the incubator is to strengthen the SSI community by building a robust, technology-agnostic, and interoperable ecosystem. SSI Incubator was created to support the adoption and growth of SSI.

That being said, if you feel your company may not fit the mold exactly but you can articulate a connection to our mission of creating an interoperable identity ecosystem, feel free to apply and make your case.

Do I have to own a company to apply?

Yes, you must be a founder of a company to apply. For our purposes, owning at least 10 percent equity makes you a founder. Please reach out if you feel an exception should be made.

Do I need to live in San Francisco for the duration of the incubator?

Of course participants will come and go in order to meet with potential customers, attend events, and establish their global presence. We expect this; however, participating startups should plan on spending 12 weeks in San Francisco. While it is possible to commute each week (i.e., live at home on the weekends), we highly recommend residing in or close to San Francisco to take full advantage of the opportunity.

Does the program offer housing?

No, but we can help identify housing options.

Does the program offer investment?

Yes! SSI Accelerator LLC will invest $180,000 into your startup contingent upon:

Your being selected by the Application Review Committee to participate in the incubator
Your accepting the Application Review Committee’s invitation to participate
Your agreement to participate in the incubator’s program for the duration of the 12 weeks

The program’s cost is $30,000, which covers overhead, content, and staff – everything that participants will need to get the most out of their time in the incubator. Many successful incubators are structured this way. So the gross investment of $180,000 less $30,000 equals a net investment of $150,000 for startups to use to develop prototypes, hire employees, travel, or otherwise grow their businesses.

How are decisions made?

After considering your team, your idea (including the problem you are solving, the market you will play in, etc.), and the landscape of other startups who’ve applied, the Application Review Committee will meet and discuss. The committee will decide who becomes a participant of the incubator.

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