Passkeys are considered to be the authentication method of the future. They use 2-factor authentication, which combines a biometric feature (fingerprints, facial recognition) and proof-of-possession (mobile phone, hardware token). As such, this technology does away with cumbersome and risky passwords. The use of passkeys is becoming more and more widespread. At the beginning of May this year, Google announced that passkeys can now be used as a way to log into Google accounts.
adesso ventures sees tremendous market potential in passkeys and is investing a single-digit million figure in the start-up Hanko, together with existing investors High-Tech Gründerfonds, Smart Infrastructure Ventures, PAYONE founders Carl Frederic Zitscher and Jan Kanieß, as well as Intershop co-founder Roland Fassauer. Hanko specialises in login and authentication solutions such as passkeys, passcodes, FIDO Security Keys, mobile app biometrics and OAuth login. The company offers an open-source solution that is particularly developer-friendly and can be integrated in a matter of minutes. The Kiel-based start-up is a member of the FIDO Alliance, the industry association dedicated to the development of authentication standards, whose members include the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), Google and Apple.
