BlokID Raises US $1.25 Million Seed to Safeguard Privacy for the Digital Advertising Industry

Founded in July 2023, BlokID is a next-generation developer of privacy protection solutions for the digital advertising industry, leveraging blockchain technology to bring an independent, immutable source of truth to digital advertising. By utilizing BlokID, advertisers are able to seamlessly verify ads, conduct attribution audits, and guarantee privacy with bonded privacy insurance through one click campaigns integrated with Google, Facebook, DV360, Xander, and The Trade Desk. 

Recognizing the trust and privacy issues that brands and agencies face in digital advertising, BlokID solves three key problems—

‍Ad Attribution: allowing clients to verify attribution of ad conversion and detect variances against data reported.

‍Privacy Insurance: utilizing blockchain timestamping to immediately notify clients of any third party access of information.‍

GA4 Transparency: moving to GA4 away from Universal Analytics to offer event transparency to all Google Analytics users for free.

Following major privacy violations and litigation cases in recent years, brands understand the severity and heavy cost of data breaches as major threats to business reputation and user loyalty, requiring brands to allocate a significant portion of their budget to brand safety. BlokID provides an easy and cost-effective solution to prevent breaches from occurring. BlokID sends immediate notifications to clients of any third-party access to their information, providing an unparalleled level of control and security to help brands and agencies build and maintain trust with their customers. In turn, brands are able to direct their attention to their core business—delivering impactful results and building strong relationships with their audiences—without having to worry about their data.

BlokID is led by Michael Hahn (CEO), a former executive at Oracle Corporation and Valassis and 20 year veteran in the advertising industry, who recognized the shortcomings of existing solutions in protecting user privacy. Hahn set out to build solutions that would empower users and businesses with tools to navigate the digital landscape safely and securely, building off a rising tide of user demand for greater control of their data.

“I want to extend a special thanks to Binh Tran, General Partner at AVV, and Jun Wakabayashi, Principal at AppWorks, for their belief in the mission of BlokID. Their insights and strategic guidance will be instrumental in shaping our go-to-market strategy,” said Michael Hahn, Founder and CEO, BlokID.

With this round of financing, BlokID will accelerate product development, focus on user acquisition, and initiate market expansion—with an outlook to launch by Q2 2024. The company plans to roll out Google Analytics plug-ins and Financial Identity features to further empower users and safeguard their information.

“In an era where digital advertising faces unprecedented challenges, BlokID aims to be a beacon of hope. They are not just solving complex problems of ad attribution but are also navigating the intricate landscape of privacy regulations. Mike’s leadership and his ability to both dream big and execute with precision are what will set BlokID apart in this growing industry,” said Binh Tran, General Partner, AVV.

“Michael is a seasoned entrepreneur who brings forth a wealth of experience in adtech and data analytics. We’re excited to back his vision in leveraging the latest innovations in blockchain technology to bring more transparency to the attribution world, while also tackling the increasingly growing concern of privacy protection for both companies and their customers in the digital world,” said Jun Wakabayashi, Principal, AppWorks.

About BlokID

BlokID is a next generation developer of privacy protection solutions for the digital advertising industry, leveraging blockchain technology to bring an independent, immutable source of truth to digital advertising. By utilizing BlokID, advertisers are able to seamlessly verify ads, conduct attribution audits, and guarantee privacy with bonded privacy insurance. 

About Ascend Vietnam Ventures

AVV is an early stage VC firm investing in tech entrepreneurs in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. We invest in ambitious founders looking to build tomorrow's globally iconic companies.

For more information, please visit https://www.avv.co/

About AppWorks

Founded in 2009, AppWorks is a leading startup community and venture capital firm built by founders, for founders. We are committed to backing the next generation of entrepreneurs in Greater Southeast Asia (ASEAN+Taiwan) and helping them facilitate the region’s transition into the digital age. Just as how mobile and the internet completely transformed the status quo, we believe the current era of technology is currently being defined by major three paradigm shifts: AI, Blockchain, and Southeast Asia (ABS). 

As such, whether it’s mentorship, investment, or talent, AppWorks has established a one-stop-shop for ambitious founders willing to bet against the consensus and drive a change they want to see in the world. We help startups build disruptive businesses from even an inkling of an idea into world-class enterprises through our three primary lines of service: Accelerator, Funds, and School.

More information: appworks.tw