Passage

Passage, now operating as Passage by 1Password, is a strategic component in the evolving landscape of digital identity, focusing on passwordless authentication. The company was founded in 2020 by CEO Cole Hecht and CTO Anna Pobletts and is based in Austin, Texas. Both founders brought a wealth of cybersecurity experience to the venture; Hecht worked as a consultant in application security and identity, while Pobletts' career spanned identity, cryptography, and application security at institutions like the Department of Defense and Twilio.

In February 2022, Passage emerged from stealth, announcing its public beta and a significant funding milestone of $4 million, led by LiveOak Venture Partners. This initial capital injection was aimed at expanding the platform's capabilities, including support for more authentication methods and mobile integration. The company's trajectory took a significant turn on October 31, 2022, when it was acquired by the password management giant 1Password for a reported $24 million in equity. This acquisition integrated Passage's team and technology into 1Password, tasking them with developing a passkey-first authentication platform for businesses.

Passage provides a developer-first solution that enables businesses to replace traditional password-based logins with more secure and user-friendly biometric authentication. Its core product allows developers to integrate passwordless sign-ins into their websites and applications with just a few lines of code. This system leverages built-in device biometrics such as Apple's Face ID and Touch ID, and Windows Hello, eliminating the need for users to remember complex passwords and protecting them from phishing and account takeover attacks. The service is designed for developers, offering APIs and SDKs compatible with various tech stacks like React, Vue, and Django. For clients, Passage offers two main products: "Passkey Complete," a standalone solution to fully replace existing authentication flows, and "Passkey Flex," which allows for the addition of passkeys alongside traditional authentication methods. This approach serves businesses looking to reduce user friction at critical points like checkout, thereby aiming to decrease cart abandonment and lower support costs associated with password resets.

Keywords: passwordless authentication, passkeys, biometric authentication, identity management, developer tools, API, SDK, cybersecurity, user authentication, Face ID, Touch ID, Windows Hello, account security, phishing prevention, customer identity access management, CIAM, passkey implementation, user experience, developer-first, authentication platform