Ticto

Ticto, a Belgian startup founded in 2014, has developed a solution for visual identification and access control. The company was established by a team with deep expertise in the smart card, ICT, and security sectors, including founders Johan Vinckier, who previously held senior roles at Altran and Gemalto, and Nedko Ivanov, an entrepreneur with a background in secure transactions. Their collective experience in secure authentication and technology laid the groundwork for Ticto's core product.

The company addresses the need for unambiguous, at-a-glance presence verification in secure environments like construction sites, industrial plants, ports, and large corporate events. Its primary offering is the Ticto Badge, a smart device that functions as a dynamic, visually verifiable ID. The badge features an e-paper screen that displays a user's photo and dynamically generated security codes or symbols, which change at predetermined intervals. This system ensures that only currently authorized individuals can display a valid badge, rendering counterfeit or stolen credentials ineffective. It complements existing RFID or NFC access control systems by adding a crucial layer of visual security that is easy for human guards to interpret instantly without requiring special scanning equipment.

Ticto operates on a business-to-business (B2B) model, selling its hardware and accompanying software platform to organizations that manage large numbers of employees, contractors, and visitors. The business generates revenue through the sale of the Ticto Badges and recurring licensing fees for the management software. This platform allows security managers to issue, manage, and revoke access credentials in real-time, providing a centralized and efficient way to control physical access across complex facilities. The key benefit for clients is the significant enhancement of on-site security by closing the gap left by traditional systems, which can be easily bypassed if a card is simply present, regardless of who is holding it. Ticto's approach simplifies the identification process, reduces security risks, and improves operational efficiency for safety and security personnel.

Keywords: access control, visual verification, security wearable, smart badge, physical security, presence control, visitor management, B2B security, secure identification, e-paper display