Talao

Based in Paris, France, Talao operates as a specialized developer of decentralized digital identity solutions. The company was founded in 2015, with some sources indicating a 2018 establishment, by Nicolas Muller, Thierry Thevenet, Denis Lafont-Trevisan, Jean-Charles Marcos, and Yoann Babel. CEO Nicolas Muller previously founded eMindHub, a marketplace for tech talent, which later transitioned into the blockchain-based Talao platform.

Talao focuses on Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI), providing open-source protocols and digital wallets that empower individuals to control their own data. The firm's core offerings include the Talao and Altme wallets, which are designed to manage verifiable credentials (VCs), digital assets like NFTs, and cryptocurrencies across multiple blockchains such as Tezos, Ethereum, and Polygon. These wallets are built in compliance with European standards like the European Self-Sovereign Identity Framework (ESSIF) and the upcoming EU Digital Identity (EUDI) wallet regulations. The technology enables users to prove their identity or qualifications without relying on a central authority, enhancing privacy and security.

The company's business model includes a "Wallet-as-a-Service" solution, allowing organizations to launch their own customized and branded SSI wallets. This service accelerates time-to-market for businesses wanting to integrate decentralized identity features. Initially, Talao aimed to create a decentralized freelance marketplace with zero commission fees, using a token to facilitate transactions. Over time, its focus has sharpened towards providing the underlying identity infrastructure for the Web3 ecosystem. Talao's solutions cater to various use cases, including reducing resume fraud for HR departments, enabling frictionless onboarding for gig platforms, and providing passwordless authentication. The company's technology is open-source, promoting interoperability and security through community audits.

Keywords: Self-Sovereign Identity, SSI, digital identity wallet, verifiable credentials, decentralized identity, Web3 identity, blockchain identity, open source, EUDI wallet, EBSI, Tezos, Polygon, Ethereum, Wallet-as-a-Service, Nicolas Muller, Thierry Thevenet, digital assets, NFT wallet, crypto wallet, data privacy, identity management, decentralized applications, verifiable data, secure authentication