// startup autopsy
Clickpass
An OpenID single sign-on pioneer that got absorbed before the passwordless wave arrived.
timingAcqui-hire
Fatal mistake: Bet on OpenID as the dominant identity standard before mass consumer adoption materialized, leaving the product without a large enough addressable market.
| Founded | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Closed | 2010 |
| Country | USA |
| Sector | Cybersecurity |
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Key Events Timeline
FOUNDING
Clickpass founded in the USA to build an OpenID-based single sign-on platform.
FUNDING
Raised $0.02M in seed funding to develop the identity management product.
DOWN ROUND
Facebook Connect launched, signaling that tech giants would dominate the identity layer, marginalizing OpenID startups.
DOWN ROUND
Consumer OpenID adoption stagnated; Clickpass struggled to demonstrate meaningful user growth.
SHUTDOWN
Clickpass was acquired in an acqui-hire, ending its independent operation.