Simprints
{{short description|Nonprofit technology company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Simprints
| logo = Simprints_logo.png
| type = Nonprofit
| industry = Technology
| founder = Alexandra Grigore
Toby Norman
Daniel Storisteanu
Tristram Norman
| hq_location = University of Cambridge
| products = Biometric identification tools
}}
Simprints is a nonprofit technology company originating at the University of Cambridge.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/entrepreneurship/programmes/accelerate-cambridge/ventures/accelerate-alumni/|title=Accelerate alumni|website=Cambridge Judge Business School|language=en|access-date=2018-05-23}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://datacatalog.worldbank.org/dataset/identification-development-global-dataset|title=The World Bank - Identification for Development (ID4D) Global Dataset}}{{Cite web |last1=Nagamine |first1=Yoshinobu |last2=Norman |first2=Toby |date=2023-09-12 |title=What are biometrics and how can it be responsibly used to help tackle malaria? |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/09/what-are-biometrics-and-how-can-they-help-tackle-malaria/ |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=World Economic Forum}} The company promotes a portable fingerprint and face biometric system designed for front-line workers delivering at the last mile.{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/18/health/biometrics-simprints-fingerprints/index.html?sr=twCNN021818biometrics-simprints-fingerprints0735PMVODtop|title=How biometrics is giving identities to 'invisible citizens'|website=CNN International|date=19 February 2018 }}{{Cite web |last=Leichtner |first=Kim |date=2024-03-05 |title=2024 Winner: Simprints |url=https://lipmanfamilyprize.wharton.upenn.edu/winners/2024/simprints/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Lipman Family Prize |language=en-US}} The technology uses Bluetooth to connect to an Android mobile device that is interoperable with existing mHealth systems such as CommCare, ODK, or DHIS2.{{Cite journal|last1=Storisteanu|first1=Daniel Matthew L|last2=Norman|first2=Toby L|last3=Grigore|first3=Alexandra|last4=Norman|first4=Tristram L|date=2015-03-02|title=Biometric Fingerprint System to Enable Rapid and Accurate Identification of Beneficiaries|journal=Global Health: Science and Practice|volume=3|issue=1|pages=135–137|doi=10.9745/GHSP-D-15-00010|issn=2169-575X|pmc=4356282|pmid=25745127}}
History
Simprints emerged in May 2012 out of a hackathon organised by the Centre for Global Equality and sponsored by technology company Arm.{{Cite news|url=https://nextbillion.net/simprints-id-verification/|title=Verifying a Need: SimPrints wades into 'identification crisis' in health care, seeking global scale - NextBillion|date=2014-10-15|work=NextBillion|access-date=2018-05-23|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ideaspace.cam.ac.uk/simprints|title=Simprints- IdeaSpace|website=IdeaSpace|language=en|access-date=2018-05-23}} The founders of Simprints include Gates-Cambridge scholars Alexandra Grigore,{{Cite news|url=https://www.gatescambridge.org/members-area/connect/directory/scholar/6519|title=Profile|work=Gates Cambridge|access-date=2018-05-21|language=en}} Toby Norman, and Daniel Storisteanu{{Cite news|url=https://www.gatescambridge.org/members-area/connect/directory/scholar/6542?ScholarID=5792|title=Profile|work=Gates Cambridge|access-date=2018-05-21|language=en}} as well as Royal Holloway-University of London student Tristram Norman.
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).{{Cite web|url=https://savinglivesatbirth.net/news/14/08/01/round-4-award-nominees-30-awards-announced|title=Round 4 Award Nominees: 30 Awards Announced {{!}} Saving Lives at Birth|last=(GH/AA/GHI)|first=Clune, Karen|website=savinglivesatbirth.net|language=en|access-date=2018-05-21}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.gatescambridge.org/news/recognition-grows-simprints|title=Recognition grows for SimPrints|last=mandy|date=2015-03-09|work=Gates Cambridge|access-date=2018-05-23|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://insight.jbs.cam.ac.uk/2014/startup-simprints-wins-250000-from-gates-foundation-for-game-changing-invention/|title=Startup Simprints wins $250,000 from Gates Foundation for 'game-changing' invention|date=2014-08-13|work=CJBS Insight|access-date=2018-05-23|language=en-US}} This funding was partially matched by Arm ltd, a Cambridge based semiconductor and software company.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessweekly.co.uk/news/biomedtech/17432-arm-takes-simprints-cash-haul-half-million|title=ARM takes SimPrints cash haul to half a million {{!}} Business Weekly {{!}} Technology News {{!}} Business news {{!}} Cambridge and the East of England|website=www.businessweekly.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-05-21}} 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.{{Cite journal|date=2016-11-01|title=Can biometrics beat the developing world's challenges?|journal=Biometric Technology Today|language=en|volume=2016|issue=11|pages=5–9|doi=10.1016/S0969-4765(16)30193-X|issn=0969-4765|last1=Storisteanu|first1=Daniel M.L|last2=Norman|first2=Toby L|last3=Grigore|first3=Alexandra|last4=Labrique|first4=Alain B}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.borgenmagazine.com/biometric-solutions-to-identification-challenges/|title=Biometric Solutions to Identification Challenges|date=2016-10-14|work=BORGEN|access-date=2018-05-23|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.biometricupdate.com/201408/simprints-wins-250000-from-gates-foundation-to-develop-fingerprint-scanner|title=SimPrints wins £250,000 from Gates Foundation to develop fingerprint scanner|date=2014-08-19|work=BiometricUpdate|access-date=2018-05-23|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.gatescambridge.org/multimedia/films/digital-healthcare|title=Digital healthcare|last=alex.corr|date=2015-03-06|work=Gates Cambridge|access-date=2018-05-23|language=en}}
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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.gatescambridge.org/news/simprints-pilot-bangladesh|title=SimPrints to pilot in Bangladesh|last=mandy|date=2014-06-12|work=Gates Cambridge|access-date=2018-05-28|language=en}}
In 2016, Simprints developed their first production-ready biometric scanner known as Vero. It is IP65 rated and CE/FCC certified.{{Cite web|url=http://therefore.com/work/simprints-vero-scanner/|title=Simprints Vero Scanner {{!}} therefore|website=therefore.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-05-28}}
In 2016, Simprints won a $200,000 grant from the Global Innovation Fund.{{Cite web |title=Simprints |url=https://www.globalinnovation.fund/investments/simprints |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Global Innovation Fund |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://savinglivesatbirth.net/news/17/07/31/fifteen-innovators-get-funding-saving-lives-birth?page=2|title=Fifteen Innovators Get Funding from Saving Lives at Birth {{!}} Saving Lives at Birth|last=Kapil|first=Vinesh|website=savinglivesatbirth.net|language=en|access-date=2018-05-16}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessweekly.co.uk/news/biomedtech/arm-backs-simprints-245m-funding-boost-prevent-maternal-and-child-deaths|title=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|website=www.businessweekly.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-05-23}}
In 2019, Simprints announced that 3000 units of the Vero 2.0 would be shipped in early 2020{{Cite web|url=https://diginomica.com/simprints-identifies-cloud-foundation-biometrics-led-healthcare|title=Simprints identifies cloud as foundation for biometrics-led healthcare|date=2020-02-07|website=diginomica|language=en|access-date=2020-02-09}}
In April 2022, Simprints enrolled over 2 million people with its biometric technology.{{Cite web |last=Leichtner |first=Kim |date=2024-03-05 |title=2024 Winner: Simprints |url=https://lipmanfamilyprize.wharton.upenn.edu/winners/2024/simprints/ |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=Lipman Family Prize |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-27 |title=Simprints plans to make its biometric ID open source for greater social impact {{!}} Biometric Update |url=https://www.biometricupdate.com/202403/simprints-plans-to-make-its-biometric-id-open-source-for-greater-social-impact |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=www.biometricupdate.com |language=en-US}}
Published Literature
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.{{Cite web |title=Toby Norman: Is Passion Enough for Simprints to Thrive? - Case - Faculty & Research - Harvard Business School |date=6 December 2023 |url=https://www.biometricupdate.com/202312/simprints-non-profit-biometrics-growth-dilemma-now-on-harvard-business-curriculum}}
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.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-07 |title=Biometrics and digital ID raise policy questions; Simprints and Yoti have answers {{!}} Biometric Update |url=https://www.biometricupdate.com/202306/biometrics-and-digital-id-raise-policy-questions-simprints-and-yoti-have-answers |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=www.biometricupdate.com |language=en-US}}
Awards and Recognitions
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Award !Subject !Outcome !Ref |
| 2014
|Saving Lives at Birth Grand Challenge | rowspan="3" |Simprints |{{Won}} |
| rowspan="2" |2015
|UNICEF + TechCrunch Award for ‘Best Tech: Changing Children’s Lives for Good’ |{{Won}} |
| Business Weekly Awards Startup Company of the Year
|{{Won}} |
| rowspan="4" |2016
| rowspan="3" |Forbes 30 Under 30 Entrepreneur List |Toby Norman (CEO) |{{Won}} |
| Tristram Norman
|{{Won}} | rowspan="2" |{{Cite web |title=SimPrints |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/simprints/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Forbes |language=en}} |
| Dan Storisteanu
|{{Won}} |
| $200,000 grant from the Global Innovation Fund
|Simprints |{{Won}} |
| rowspan="3" |2017
|Core77 Design for Social Impact Award |Simprints and Smart Design |{{Won}} |
| Schwab Social Entrepreneur of the Year
|Toby Norman (CEO) |{{Won}} |
| Round 7 Saving Lives at Birth Transition to Scale Grant
|Simprints |{{Won}} |
| rowspan="2" |2018
|GLG Social Entrepreneur Fellowship |Toby Norman (CEO) |{{Won}} |
| Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance INFUSE ‘Pacesetter’
| rowspan="2" |Simprints |{{Won}} | |
| 2019
|The World Bank’s Mission Billion Challenge - Top Prize |{{Won}} |
| rowspan="6" |2020
|Elevate Prize Foundation Award |Alexandra Grigore (CPO) |{{Won}} |
| MIT Solve 'Health Security and Pandemics' Challenge for 'Biometrics for Vaccine Delivery'
| rowspan="11" |Simprints |{{Won}} |
| FT/IFC Transformational Business Award: ‘Transformational Solutions in Health, Wellness and Disease Prevention’
|{{Won}} |
| COVIDaction Data Challenge Award
|{{Won}} |
| 10 Best Workplaces in Tech (Small)
|{{Won}} |
| 24 Best Workplaces (Small)
|{{Won}} |
| rowspan="2" |2021
|Innovations in Healthcare ‘Innovator Network’ |{{Won}} |
| Great Place to Work 2021
|{{Won}} |
| rowspan="3" |2022
|World Food Programme Digital Health Innovation Accelerator |{{Won}} |
| Great Place to Work 2022
|{{Won}} |
| 60 Best Workplaces for Women
|{{Won}} | |
| rowspan="3" |2023
|Great Place to Work Certified Company |{{Won}} |
| Flexa Pioneer Award
|Tara Clarkson, Simprints Chief of People & Culture |{{Won}} |
| Top organisations to escape to list by Escape the City
| rowspan="7" |Simprints |{{Won}} |
| rowspan="6" |2024
|Flexa Certified Flexible Company |{{Won}} |
| 2024 Responsible Tech Organisations List
|{{Won}} |
| Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplaces by Newsweek
|{{Won}} |
| Top Most Loved Workplaces® for Young Professionals
|{{Won}} |
| UK's Best Workplaces for Women
|{{Won}} |
| UK's Best Workplaces for Wellbeing
|{{Won}} |
| 2025
|Gates Cambridge Impact Prize | rowspan="1" |Alexandra Grigore, Simprints' Chief Strategy Officer |{{Won}} |
| 2025
|Gates Foundation 2025 UK Goalkeeper | rowspan="1" |Toby Norman, Simprints' Chief Executive Officer |{{Won}} |
Affiliations
As of January 2023, Simprints' partners and financial supporters include:{{Cite web |title=Our Partners |url=https://www.simprints.com/partners |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230102072206/https://www.simprints.com/partners |archive-date=2023-01-02 |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Simprints Technology}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
- Arm{{Cite news |title=Simprints $2m funding win |language=en |work=Arm Community |url=https://community.arm.com/company/b/blog/posts/simprints-2m-funding-win |access-date=2018-05-23}}
- Autodesk{{Cite news |title=Therefore- vero |url=http://therefore.com/work/simprints-vero-scanner/}}
- Balsamiq
- Basecamp
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- BRAC
- Brown University
- Children's Investment Fund Foundation
- Cisco
- COHESU{{Cite web|url=https://www.cohesu.com/our-programs/simprintscohesu|title=COHESU.org {{!}} Home|website=COHESU.org {{!}} Home|language=en|access-date=2018-05-21}}
- CommCare
- D-Tree{{Cite web |last=Developer |date=2020-07-02 |title=Digital Spark #1: Setting digital health apart |url=https://www.d-tree.org/digital-spark-1-setting-digital-health-apart/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=D-tree |language=en-US}}
- Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation{{Cite web|url=https://www.drkfoundation.org/organization/simprints/|title=Simprints {{!}} DRK Foundation {{!}} Supporting passionate, high impact social enterprises|website=www.drkfoundation.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-21}}
- Duke University{{Cite web |date=2024-05-13 |title=DGHI Sends Off the Class of 2024 |url=https://globalhealth.duke.edu/news/dghi-sends-class-2024 |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=globalhealth.duke.edu |language=en}}
- Elevate Foundation{{Cite web |title=Winners - 2020 |url=https://elevateprize.org/winners-2020/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Elevate |language=en}}
- Foundation Botnar{{Cite web |title=#Ad paid and presented by Arm and Simprints. The importance of having a health ID |url=http://www.bbc.com/storyworks/healthier-together/the-importance-of-having-a-health-id |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=www.bbc.com}}
- Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
- Gerson Lehrman Group
- Ghana Health Service
- GitHub
- GIZ
- Global Innovation Fund{{Cite news|url=https://globalinnovation.fund/investments/simprints/|title=Simprints - Global Innovation Fund|work=Global Innovation Fund|access-date=2018-05-23|language=en-US}}
- Innovations in Healthcare{{Cite web |title=Simprints |url=https://www.innovationsinhealthcare.org/Simprints%20Long%20Profile_v.pdf |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Innovations in Healthcare}}
- Impact Network{{Cite web |last1=Dias |first1=Paula |last2=Ring |first2=Hannah |last3=Rothbard |first3=Victoria |last4=Siwach |first4=Garima |last5=Toungui |first5=Anaïs |last6=de Hoop |first6=Thomas |date=2023-10-01 |title=Case Study of the Use of Biometrics in Impact Network Schools in Rural Zambia |url=https://www.air.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/Simprints-Case-Study-Biometrics-Rural-Zambia-Report-October-2023.pdf |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=American Institutes for Research}}
- Innovate UK
- International Committee of the Red Cross{{Cite web |title=Roadmap to Safer Biometrics in the Humanitarian Sector |url=https://www.calpnetwork.org/event/roadmap-to-safer-biometrics-in-the-humanitarian-sector/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=The CALP Network |language=en}}
- JetBrains
- John Snow, Inc
- Kemp Little
- Khushi Baby{{Cite web |date=2021-11-08 |title=Request for Proposals For procuring 370 NFC based smartphones |url=https://www.khushibaby.org/RFP_Procureing_370_smaprthones-GIZ-Khushi%20Baby-Simprints.pdf |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Khushi Baby}}
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Microsoft
- Ministry of Health of Ethiopia
- Bangladesh Ministry of Health and Family Welfare{{Cite web |title=Unique and universal: how fingerprint tech is helping get kids protected in Bangladesh |url=https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/unique-and-universal-how-fingerprint-tech-helping-get-kids-protected-bangladesh |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=www.gavi.org |language=en}}
- MIT Solve{{Cite web |title=Biometrics for vaccine delivery (Simprints Technology) |url=https://solve.mit.edu/challenges/health-security-pandemics/solutions/31706 |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=MIT SOLVE |language=en}}
- MobiKlinic{{Cite web |title=2023 Report |url=https://mobiklinic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Mobiklinic-2023-Report-Release-1.pdf |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=MobiKlinic}}
- Notre Dame-IBM Technology Ethics Lab{{Cite web |last=Lab |first=Tech Ethics |date=2022-01-28 |title=Notre Dame-IBM Tech Ethics Lab Announces Projects Recommended for CFP Funding |url=https://techethicslab.nd.edu/news/notre-dame-ibm-technology-ethics-lab-announces-funding-for-proposals/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Tech Ethics Lab |language=en}}
- ODK
- Orbis International{{Cite web |date=2021-12-02 |title=Simprints deploying biometrics for healthcare projects in Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania {{!}} Biometric Update |url=https://www.biometricupdate.com/202112/simprints-deploying-biometrics-for-healthcare-projects-in-ghana-ethiopia-tanzania |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=www.biometricupdate.com |language=en-US}}
- Pfizer Foundation{{Cite web |title=Meet 6 of the 20 Organizations Making an Impact Through the Global Health Innovation Grants Program {{!}} Pfizer |url=https://www.pfizer.com/news/announcements/meet-6-20-organizations-making-impact-through-global-health-innovation-grants |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=www.pfizer.com |language=en}}
- Salesforce
- Slack
- Smart Design
- Terra Firma{{Cite web |date=2021-06-17 |title=Simprints adds facial recognition to Mozambique land ownership records {{!}} Biometric Update |url=https://www.biometricupdate.com/202106/simprints-adds-facial-recognition-to-mozambique-land-ownership-records |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=www.biometricupdate.com |language=en-US}}
- Steele Foundation for Hope{{Cite web |title=SteeleFoundationForHope.org |url=https://www.steelefoundationforhope.org/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=SteeleFoundationForHope.org |language=en-US}}
- Trinity College, Cambridge
- UK aid
- United States Agency for International Development{{Cite web|url=https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/15396/IDENTITY_IN_A_DIGITAL_AGE.pdf|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210626013246/https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/15396/IDENTITY_IN_A_DIGITAL_AGE.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 26, 2021|title=Identity in a digital age|website=USAID}}
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of Sydney{{Cite web |title=PEARL - On device interoperability between Simprints and REDCap for TB |url=https://softwareforhealth.org/case-studies/22-pearl |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=softwareforhealth.org}}
- World Bank{{Cite web |title=PEARL - On device interoperability between Simprints and REDCap for TB |url=https://softwareforhealth.org/case-studies/22-pearl |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=softwareforhealth.org}}
- World Food Program{{Cite web |title=Digital Health Innovation Accelerator Programme {{!}} WFP Innovation |url=https://innovation.wfp.org/digital-health-innovation-accelerator-program |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=innovation.wfp.org |language=en}}
- Engineering for Change{{Cite web |title=Simprints |url=https://www.engineeringforchange.org/solutions/product/simprints/ |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Engineering For Change |language=en-US}}
- Saving Lives at Birth{{Cite web |title=Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development Announces Round 4 Award Nominees for Disruptive Solutions to Prevent Maternal & Infant Deaths |url=https://2012-2017.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/aug-1-2014-saving-lives-birth-grand-challenge-development-announces-round-4-award-nominees |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203121359/https://2012-2017.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/aug-1-2014-saving-lives-birth-grand-challenge-development-announces-round-4-award-nominees |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 3, 2024 |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=USAID |language=en}}
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.simprints.com Official website]
Category:Organisations based in Cambridge