Global biometric authentication technology company Identy.io has announced a strategic expansion into Africa, positioning itself to support the continent’s growing push for inclusive digital identity systems and public digital infrastructure.
The expansion will initially focus on Nigeria and Kenya, two of Africa’s largest and fastest-growing digital economies, with plans to scale into additional markets under a phased regional growth strategy. As part of the move, Identy.io has appointed a regional leadership team to engage with governments, financial institutions, telecom operators, and other regulated industries.
The company specialises in secure, mobile-first biometric identity verification, offering a software-driven alternative to traditional identity systems that often rely on costly and rigid hardware infrastructure.
Addressing Africa’s Digital Identity Gap
Governments across Africa are accelerating the rollout of national digital identity programmes to improve public service delivery, expand financial inclusion, and strengthen digital economies. However, gaps remain.
According to World Bank ID4D data, while roughly 80% of adults in Sub-Saharan Africa possess some form of identification, many countries still record coverage rates below 70%—limiting access to banking, healthcare, mobile services, and government support.
Identy.io says its technology is designed to close gaps by enabling biometric capture using standard smartphones, issuing digital identities to individuals without formal documentation, and supporting large-scale biometric verification and deduplication.
“Identy.io is committed to being a long-term partner in Africa’s digital public and private infrastructure,” said Antony Vendhan, Co-founder of Identy.io. “We are transforming an industry model that depends on expensive and inflexible infrastructure by adopting a software-first approach that allows governments and businesses to reach underserved communities.”
Leadership Appointments to Drive Regional Growth
To support its African expansion, Identy.io announced several key leadership appointments:
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Dr. Olajide Olasiyan-Ola, Regional Head for West Africa, brings over two decades of experience in biometric identity and digital infrastructure, including senior roles in Nigeria’s Bank Verification Number (BVN) programme.
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Edwin Mutisya, Senior Sales Manager, based in Kenya, has extensive experience deploying identity solutions for banks and telecom operators across regulated African markets.
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Matus Kapusta, appointed Product Director, will lead the company’s Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) portfolio, drawing on more than 16 years of experience delivering biometric solutions at national scale.
Industry Validation and MOSIP Alignment
As part of its credibility and compliance strategy, Identy.io’s ABIS platform has completed the MOSIP partner compliance process and is now listed on the MOSIP Marketplace. MOSIP is a globally recognised open-source platform that supports governments in building and owning foundational digital ID systems tailored to national needs.
The company says this alignment positions it to support responsible, scalable identity deployments that align with Africa’s digital transformation priorities.
With Nigeria and Kenya at the centre of its initial rollout, Identy.io aims to play a growing role in shaping Africa’s digital identity ecosystem—one that balances security, inclusion, and economic opportunity.
