k-ID hopes to ensure age-appropriate gaming for future generations and has the investment to … [+]
k-ID, a global cross-platform compliance platform that aims to simplify online security and privacy management for game developers, parents and young gamers, has secured a $45 million Series A funding round. With this, the company hopes to provide a “first-of-its-kind” age-appropriate gaming solution.
Founded with a mission to empower new players, k-ID, which went undercover in March, was created by Kieran Donovan, Timothy Ma, Julian Corbett and Jeff Wu, who lead a wider team whose experience includes roles in the Meta , Google, EA, Tencent and Take-Two.
Series A was led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Lightspeed Venture Partners, under head of gaming and interactive media Moritz Baier-Lentz. The round received significant backing from VC funds Convoy and TIRTAidentity management specialist Okta and Z Venture Capital from Japanese technology company LY Corporation, bringing k-ID’s total funding to $51 million.
Upon formal agreement, the ESRB Privacy Certified program will support game publishers that integrate k-ID into their game systems by configuring parent/family and developer portals to reflect COPPA-based requirements. will also help publishers use k-ID technology as a way to earn the ESRB Privacy Certified Kids Seal.
Kieran Donovan, co-founder and CEO of k-ID, believes the internet is “based on the idea that kids and teenagers aren’t online” – hence why pop-ups ask if you’re over a certain age – so the k-ID aims to deliver a “paradigm shift in this way of thinking”.
Donovan explained that, for example, popular games with ESRB Teen (13+) ratings are still being played by millions of kids under 13, which means age-appropriate adjustments are in place – such as ensuring that under-13s they can connect to a child-focused community – it can’t be done. k-ID, in this situation, wants to provide an “age-appropriate experience that empowers and respects this community.”
He said: “The time for change is now – today, the world is demanding safer, more empowering online experiences for young people.
“The base of support from across the industry has been amazing. We are excited to accelerate our mission to bring privacy-preserving technology, primarily to youth, that responds to the social imperative of empowering the next generation.”
k-ID Founders (LR): Timothy Ma (Chief Legal Officer), Jeff Wu (Chief Safety Officer), Kieran … [+]
“It’s rare to find this combination of unique founder-market fit, social impact and—most impressive—commercial traction,” said Baier-Lentz, who will join k-ID’s board of directors. “Clearly, k-ID solves a huge challenge for publishers, parents, teenagers and children around the world. Starting this partnership during my parental leave just made it more meaningful.”
This latest funding round – one of three in nine months – follows another major development for k-ID in 2024. It was Selected as a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneeras part of the annual list of 100 companies, chosen for their “transformative potential and entrepreneurial spirit essential to shaping a better future”.
