From 100M to 200M in 11 Months: Inside Smile ID’s Groundbreaking Journey

Every great journey has moments that stand out—milestones that mark progress and reflect a vision realised. For Smile ID, that moment is here, as we proudly celebrate an extraordinary achievement: 200 million identity verification checks completed across Africa.

It’s a milestone that tells a story. Seven years ago, Smile ID set out to revolutionise identity verification on the continent, tackling fraud and unlocking trust for businesses and users alike. In January, we hit our first 100 million checks—a feat that took years of innovation, partnerships, and perseverance. But then came the tipping point. In just 11 months, we doubled that achievement, reaching 200 million checks faster than we ever imagined.

This rapid growth isn’t just about numbers; it’s a reflection of something deeper. Businesses, governments, and individuals across Africa are placing their trust in secure, scalable digital solutions like ours. The demand for reliable identity verification continues to surge as the continent embraces the boundless opportunities of a digital economy.

Building a Secure Digital Africa

Identity verification is no longer just a backend process; it has become the foundation for trust in every digital interaction. Over the past 8 years, we’ve worked tirelessly to make proving identity simple, secure, and accessible for everyone.

"Reaching 200 million identity verifications is a remarkable milestone, one that reflects the trust our clients place in us and the growing demand for scalable identity solutions across Africa. It took us 7 years to achieve our first 100 million checks - we’ve now doubled in just 11 months”. Said, Mark Straub, CEO of Smile ID

“This rapid growth also highlights the increasing role of digital identity in daily life. 

Beyond powering onboarding, our SmartSelfie™ technology now protects millions of high-value transactions with instant AI-powered face authentication.

At Smile ID, we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, making it easy for people to prove their identity with just their face, regardless of ID card or IP address," he added.

200 Million Verifications by the Numbers

Every verification tells a story of progress. Here are some of the highlights:

• We’ve doubled our total verifications from 100M to 200M in just 11 months
• Biometric verifications powered by SmartSelfie™ technology have been instrumental in preventing fraud, enabling secure account openings and transactions across various industries.
• Over the past year, we’ve expanded our reach to South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and more, building on our strong presence in Nigeria.

Driving Growth Across Sectors

Since we launched in 2017, we’ve partnered with fintechs, banks, digital lenders, and telecoms to deliver secure identity solutions that balance fraud prevention with a seamless user experience.

Our clients, including Flutterwave, Paystack, Binance, and many others, trust us to:

• Prevent fraudulent account openings and takeovers.
• Meet local compliance requirements across diverse African markets.
• Provide onboarding experiences that win user trust from day one.

What This Means for the Future

Hitting 200 million verifications is more than a number—it’s a sign of what’s possible when businesses and technology work together to build a #DigitalAfrica.

As we look to the future, we’re expanding into more countries and continuing to innovate in areas like AI-powered fraud detection and document verification. Our focus remains on helping businesses scale securely while creating more equitable access to financial services for everyone.

Thank You for Your Trust

We couldn’t have reached this milestone without the trust of our clients and partners. Together, we’re building the infrastructure for a more secure and inclusive digital economy. 

Here’s to the next 200 million verifications!

Want to learn how Smile ID can help your business? Speak to one of our experts here.