CommonKey

CommonKey operates in the cybersecurity sector, providing a password management solution specifically engineered for teams and small businesses. The company was established in October 2013 by co-founders Andrew Stroup and Michael Cohen. Stroup brought experience as a civilian engineer for the Department of Defense, while Cohen's background was in programming within the medical sector at Johns Hopkins. Their collaboration aimed to address a gap in the market between individual password managers and complex enterprise solutions.

The business offers a Software as a Service (SaaS) product that enables teams to securely store, manage, and share passwords for various cloud applications. The core functionality is delivered through a browser extension, initially for Chrome, which allows users to automatically log into saved and shared accounts with a single click. This centralized platform is designed to enhance both productivity and security for its client base, which primarily consists of small businesses and collaborative teams. The service allows an administrator to create an organization and specific groups (e.g., marketing, development) to control who has access to which shared credentials, streamlining onboarding and offboarding processes.

CommonKey's platform is built with strong encryption and supports multi-factor authentication to provide robust security. Users can manage both personal and work-related passwords within their account. The business model intended to be subscription-based, charging companies based on the number of employees with access to shared accounts, following an initial free beta period. The founders bootstrapped the company initially and sought angel funding to support a national marketing campaign and expansion to other browsers like Firefox and Safari, as well as mobile platforms.

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