Passage
The business, the turning points, and the decisions behind them.
Some sections are still being researched2 / 4
Sections to complete：02 · 05
01 / WHAT IT BUILT
What the company did
Passage was an Austin-based, developer-first passwordless authentication startup founded in 2021 by Cole Hecht (CEO) and Anna Pobletts (CTO). Its API let web developers add biometric login — Face ID, Touch ID, Windows Hello — with a few lines of code, replacing passwords to cut cart abandonment, phishing and support costs. The company raised $4 million in seed funding led by LiveOak Venture Partners in February 2022.
02 / FAILURE REASONS
Material for this section is being gathered and checked. It will appear here once ready.
03 / EVENT HISTORY
Events in the structured record
- Company founded
Cole Hecht and Anna Pobletts found Passage in Austin to bring biometric, passwordless authentication to websites.
- Seed funding and beta launch
Passage emerges from stealth, launches its beta and raises $4 million in seed funding led by LiveOak Venture Partners.
- Acquired by 1Password
1Password acquires Passage for undisclosed terms to power its passwordless passkey platform; the Passage team joins 1Password.
04 / CONTEMPORARY REBUILD ASSESSMENT
Difficulty of rebuilding this project today
Material for this section is being gathered and checked. It will appear here once ready.
Overall assessment: Not completed
05 / CAUSAL CHAIN / AFTERMATH
Material for this section is being gathered and checked. It will appear here once ready.