In a recent Spotlight Series session, we had the pleasure of speaking with Eli Wachs, the CEO and co-founder of Footprint, about transforming identity verification in the digital age and rebuilding trust online.
Eli began by sharing how his deep interest in privacy and data led him to co-found Footprint after working in private equity at General Atlantic. From reviewing filings at the SEC to evaluating startup pitches, he has consistently pursued ways to improve financial systems, most recently by focusing on seamless and secure identity onboarding for both consumers and businesses.
The conversation emphasized Footprint’s core mission of giving people control over their identity while solving complex challenges like KYC, identity verification, and secure data storage for enterprises. “Footprint wants to bring trust back to the internet,” Eli explained, highlighting the company’s cryptographic vaults that protect sensitive data and enable one-click identity verification.
Technology and design surfaced as critical elements in making identity not just safe, but effortless. Eli spoke with pride about the platform’s one-click onboarding, its secure architecture using Nitro Enclaves, and an SDK that brings KYC, fraud detection, document capture, and bank linking into a single streamlined user flow. These solutions are already benefiting fintechs as well as industries like real estate and automotive.
One particularly memorable moment came when Eli mentioned Footprint’s origin story and his own unexpected creative side. As a part-time stand-up comedian, he brings empathy and human connection into what could otherwise feel like a purely technical product.
What stood out most was Eli’s belief that identity can be both secure and empowering. At Footprint, he is building more than a product. He is working to reimagine how people digitally prove who they are, and once that process is trustworthy, the internet becomes a safer and fairer place for everyone.
We are grateful to Eli for sharing his vision, his humor, and his practical expertise in this space. Stay tuned for more Spotlight Series conversations with the innovators shaping the future.
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