John Patterson, President of IKE Tech: Setting New Benchmarks For Biometric Security

Tell us about IKE.

 

IKE Tech is a US technology company that develops secure and innovative solutions for age verification and biometric authentication across a range of consumer products, including luxury goods, power tools, gaming devices, smart locks, and age-restricted products.

Through our cutting-edge technologies like biometric verification, blockchain security, near-field communication (NFC) stickers, and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-enabled features, we are looking to set new benchmarks for security, ensuring that only authorised individuals can access and operate technology-based products.

 

What do you think makes this company unique?

 

We are uniquely positioned to help tackle problems around authenticity verification and unauthorised access to high-value consumer goods, but also increasingly address major public health and societal challenges through our cutting-edge technology.

For example, our latest innovation in chip and AI-powered software technology is set to be rolled out globally to help address concerns around underage use of nicotine vaping products – an increasing challenge for public health, government and industry stakeholders. Recent polling data commissioned by IKE Tech found that 61% of people believe current age verification methods are too easy to bypass, highlighting the need for smarter, tech-driven solutions. While most regulatory efforts have focused on point-of-sale age restrictions, our solution directly deals with the core issue, which is accessibility at the point-of-use.

We have created a simple and effective technology that provides continuous, real-time age verification for vaping products, which can be seamlessly integrated into any device. By using a small Bluetooth-enabled (BLE) chip, paired with advanced ID verification technology, and controlled via a biometric authentication mobile app, it is now possible to activate a simple on/off switch to lock and unlock a device. Recent clinical trials proved that the technology is 100% effective at preventing underage access to vaping devices, and the system has now been accepted for review by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This is a best-in-class solution and represents a fundamental shift in how age-restricted products can be controlled. Our brand-agnostic approach also makes it a scalable, effective solution that can be implemented industry-wide without additional costs to the consumer.

 

 

What is your advice to aspiring entrepreneurs?

 

IKE Tech’s success has been built by keeping our technology simple, accessible, and easy to use. Aspiring entrepreneurs should always look for a clear problem to solve, delivered in a way that’s scalable and sustainable, and be open to continuous feedback and innovation to keep up with industry advancements.

It is important to be ambitious, focused on what they want to achieve, and strive to build a strong offering with a clear value proposition that can occupy a unique space in the market.

 

What most excites you about IKE?

 

What excites me most is the potential for IKE Tech to make a tangible difference to public health, safety, and data privacy across different industries.

Technological interventions addressing ID verification and authentication often require data processing, which puts a huge emphasis on privacy and security. However, IKE Tech’s use of patented blockchain technology with secure device tokens will set new benchmarks for immutable data protection.

When this technology is applied to real-world problems such as underage access to restricted products, we are able to further safeguard products from tampering and counterfeiting, which is increasingly prevalent in markets.

That’s why we strongly believe that by implementing age verification at the point of use, we can effectively prevent access to products not intended for underage users, while empowering adults to verify the legitimacy of their devices within a secure framework.

 

How has the company evolved over the last couple of years?

 

Over the last year, IKE Tech has evolved from a consumer-focused concept to assist verification and authentication of everyday goods, to now addressing the regulatory needs of governments in implementing robust age-gating solutions.

Our focus has also expanded to include the authentication of legitimate products. Our technology provides real-time tracking and monitoring capabilities, making us a key player in the fight against illicit markets.

 

What can we hope to see from IKE in the future?

 

In the future, you can expect IKE Tech to continue innovating and expanding its reach. We aim to work closely with international governments, retailers and manufacturers to roll out our technology on a larger scale, ensuring that innovative and secure age-gating solutions are more accessible, while still providing a frictionless user experience.

Our mission is to ultimately revolutionise user verification and age-gating security to transform how people interact with technology, creating a safer environment for consumers.