Why I Invest in Identity Validation Platform iDwall
When the investment goes beyond the money
I invested in iDwall in 2016 alongside two renowned entrepreneurs: Bruno Yoshimura (partner at OneVC) and Paulo Silveira (co-founder of Alura). I was fortunate to begin my angel investing journey with a successful company like iDwall and its founders, achieving a return of more than 90x.
I first met Lincoln Ando in Silicon Valley in 2014, during a program for Brazilian entrepreneurs led by Bedy Yang. At the time, both Lincoln and I were relatively inexperienced. That group was truly special, and I was lucky to travel and learn alongside the founders of Moip, Social Miner, MindMiners, Konduto, and VaiVolta—Lincoln Ando's first startup.
Lincoln, of course, left a strong impression on me.
Two years later, Lincoln moved on from VaiVolta, and we reconnected to discuss a new thesis he was validating with two other tech entrepreneurs. Within just five minutes of hearing about their new venture, I knew I wanted to invest.
Lincoln and Raphael Melo were tackling online fraud and identity verification using deep technology. In 2016, banks and fintechs were required to conduct identity validation through manual processes, relying heavily on human labor or BPO services to check data.
It was an expensive and non-scalable approach.
Today, it's easy to see how seamless it is to open a bank account, create a profile on a food delivery app, or order a ride via smartphone. But back then, iDwall was the first Brazilian company to enable businesses to automate identity validation, building trust in technology for complex processes like KYC (Know Your Customer), AML (Anti-Money Laundering), fraud detection, and risk prevention.
From that moment on, the process of registering for digital services in Brazil changed forever.
Investing in iDwall
For me, investing in iDwall was about more than just capital. I learned invaluable lessons from the founders about software, fraud prevention, fundraising, and building a scalable platform capable of processing thousands of analyses per minute—insights I later applied at Vindi.
As a pioneer in identity validation, iDwall witnessed many competitors emerge, some as copycats and others pivoting their business models to compete. Despite this, the founders and team maintained a relentless focus on technology, product innovation, and execution.
Their obsession with excellence was a significant learning experience for me as a founder.
The impact of iDwall is undeniable. Two of Brazil's three largest private banks use iDwall's solutions, more than BRL 8 billion in fraud has been prevented, and the company remains at the forefront of innovation.
Scientists, PhDs, Engineers, and a Diverse Team
Fast forward to 2025, and I can confidently say that iDwall has the most sophisticated technology of any company I know.
Today, around 400 companies rely on iDwall’s solutions to prevent fraud and eliminate manual work. The company serves financial institutions, e-commerce platforms, marketplaces, telecom providers, insurance companies, betting platforms, logistics firms, and more.
iDwall works with top-tier brands and industry leaders. One of its core strategies has always been to develop deep technology to support high-caliber enterprises. Itaú, Bradesco, iFood, and SulAmérica are just a few of its esteemed clients.
To maintain its pioneering spirit, iDwall is led by a diverse group of professionals, including scientists, PhDs, engineers, psychologists, lawyers, and experts from various fields. The founders and leadership team are deeply committed to building a robust platform with a strong emphasis on diversity and innovation.
iDwall is the first Brazilian company with 100% locally developed technology to obtain the iBeta2 seal, which certifies compliance with the international ISO 30703-3 standard. To put this into perspective, only 50 companies worldwide have earned this certification.
Backed by GGV Capital, monashees, Canary, Qualcomm Ventures LLC, 500 Startups, ONEVC, Peninsula, and Norte Ventures, iDwall has raised a total of $53 million in funding.
This unique combination of innovation, investment, and execution has made iDwall one of Brazil’s most groundbreaking companies.
iDwall was my first angel investment and one of my most successful in terms of ROI (+90x). But more importantly, it was a priceless learning experience, thanks to Raphael, Lincoln, and the entire iDwall team.
It was one of the best investments of my life—not just financially, but in every sense.
Recently, Lincoln Ando was honored by Okta Ventures as part of “The Identity 25,” recognizing pioneers shaping the future of digital identity.
ps: to invest in this company I simply sent a message to Lincoln on Facebook.
