Ideem Raises $2.4M to Rethink 2FA—and Make Mobile Payments Frictionless

Ideem provides an advanced, invisible two-factor authentication solution through its Zero-Trust Security Module (ZSM), eliminating the need for traditional one-time passwords.

Apr 21, 2025

In today’s digital economy, where every second counts at checkout, slow redirects and unreliable passcodes are more than just annoying—they’re revenue killers. That’s where Ideem comes in.

The Kansas City-based startup just raised a $2.4 million Seed round to make two-factor authentication (2FA) easy, invisible, and built for the mobile-first future. The round was backed by a strong coalition of investors including Sovereign’s Capital, Quona Ventures, Everywhere Ventures, Hustle Fund, Oread Angels, Network KS, and several strategic angels.

Founded by Toby Rush, Ideem is focused on helping platforms eliminate friction and fraud at the moment that matters most: checkout. “Seamless payments isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s essential for growth,” Rush said. “We’re helping our partners win at the moment that matters most, when trust and speed decide whether a customer completes a purchase or walks away.”

The Problem with the Current Payment Flow

For fast-growing digital platforms—especially in emerging markets—traditional authentication tools are breaking down. One-time passcodes (OTPs) are slow, expensive, and prone to failure. Redirects confuse users. Tokenized systems can’t always detect fraud or account takeovers in real time. The result? Lost trust and high cart abandonment.

“Ideem is tackling a massive and urgent opportunity at the intersection of security and digital commerce,” said Jake Thomsen, Managing Partner at Sovereign’s Capital. “They deliver a rare combination of technical depth and real-world business impact.”

“In the markets where Quona invests, mobile-first commerce is growing rapidly, but authentication and checkout friction remain stubborn barriers to scale,” added Monica Brand Engel, Managing Partner at Quona Capital.

Ideem’s Approach: Secure, Fast, and Invisible

At the heart of Ideem’s product is the Zero-Trust Secure Module (ZSM), which cryptographically binds the user’s device to the transaction, preventing account takeovers without interrupting the payment flow. No OTPs. No redirects. No guesswork.

This architecture gives payment providers real-time visibility into user communication—enabling faster, more secure resolution when things go wrong. For users, it feels like one-click checkout, but with enterprise-grade security under the hood.

What’s Next

With its new capital, Ideem plans to scale across high-growth markets where mobile commerce is accelerating—and where outdated payment flows are still the norm. The company is positioning itself as critical infrastructure for platforms that want to convert more users and build long-term trust through better experiences.

As authentication becomes an even more critical piece of global commerce, Ideem is betting that the future isn’t just about verifying users—it’s about doing it invisibly, securely, and instantly.

Everywhere VC

Ideem Raises $2.4M to Rethink 2FA—and Make Mobile Payments Frictionless

Ideem provides an advanced, invisible two-factor authentication solution through its Zero-Trust Security Module (ZSM), eliminating the need for traditional one-time passwords.