Meet the Team
Co-Founder
Max Coleman
Co-Founder
Jack Scott-King
Co-Founder
James Clark
Our Journey So Far
2023
January - November
EMBARKING ON THE VERA PROJECT
The roots of the VERA project stretch back to the collaboration of our three founders during their time as Honours students at the University of Cape Town. Initially, the idea emerged as they worked on a systems development project, aiming to create a practical Proof of Concept for the reusability of the KYC system utilizing Self-sovereign identity. The vision was simple: to issue South African citizens a "Vera ID" following an in-depth KYC process. This Vera ID would then facilitate swift onboarding to financial institutions.
February - April
Navigating the Discovery Gradhack Journey
Participating in the Discovery Gradhack competition with 150 teams, our founders presented a Self-Sovereign Identity-based system. The focus was on simplifying the KYC process at Discovery, eliminating the need for traditional usernames and passwords. This innovative approach promised a higher level of digital trust, allowing customers control over their data across different Discovery affiliates. Winning the national competition validated our belief in the potential of Self-Sovereign Identity for streamlining onboarding processes in financial institutions.
November
Success at UCT Systems Development Project
After a year of dedicated development, our software emerged victorious in the UCT Systems Development Project, affirming our commitment to practical innovation. By the end of the year, the Vera ID enabled citizens to onboard onto financial services within 30 seconds.
2024
January - Present
Establishing VERA Innovations
Building on our journey's successes, the founding members from the UCT team officially established VERA Innovations. With a focus on the implementation of Self-Sovereign Identity, we offer services for reviewing, designing, and implementing identity-based software. Our emphasis remains on providing proprietary solutions using SSI, as we work towards contributing positively to the South African landscape. At VERA Innovations, our commitment lies in leveraging technology responsibly to bring about meaningful changes in identity management.