Bellevue-based startup Alitheon has raised $8 million in a Series A1 funding round aimed at expanding deployment of its optical AI identity technology across global supply chains and industrial markets.
The round was led by Emerald Technology Ventures, with participation from eBay Ventures and continued support from existing investors. The company said the funding will accelerate the global rollout of its FeaturePrint platform, which is protected by more than 55 issued patents.
At the core of Alitheon’s technology is its computer vision system, FeaturePrint, which identifies individual physical items based on their natural surface characteristics rather than external identifiers. Using standard camera inputs, the system generates a unique digital signature for each object, enabling one-to-one serialization without the need for added labels, tags, or markings.
The approach targets long-standing limitations in traditional tracking systems such as barcodes, QR codes, RFID tags, and stickers, which can be damaged, removed, or counterfeited. Instead of relying on added identifiers, FeaturePrint uses inherent micro-patterns on an object’s surface to establish identity and enable verification.
The company describes this model as “biometrics for things,” where each physical item can be authenticated through a unique visual fingerprint. It also frames the system as a zero-trust approach to physical goods, meaning items are not assumed to be authentic until verified at the point of inspection.
“Securing support from such powerhouses proves the world is ready for digital-first serialization, provenance, and traceability,” said Roei Ganzarski, CEO of Alitheon. “We aren’t just identifying goods; we are powering the trust layer of the global economy, providing a level of security that additives and standard AI simply cannot match.”
Investors highlighted the potential impact of the technology on global supply chains, manufacturing systems, and logistics operations.
“At Emerald, we look for technologies that solve fundamental industrial challenges at scale,” said Gina Domanig, Managing Partner at Emerald Technology Ventures. “Alitheon’s ability to provide 1-to-1 serialization without the need for labels or tags is a game-changer for global supply chains. By establishing a ‘Zero Trust’ framework for physical goods, Alitheon is providing the essential data integrity required for the future of automated manufacturing and logistics.”
From a commerce perspective, backers also pointed to growing demand for improved authenticity and provenance tracking across resale and circular economy markets.
“Trust is the cornerstone of the global marketplace, especially as the circular economy continues to accelerate,” added Henri Lamesch, Global Head of eBay Ventures. “Alitheon’s ‘biometrics for things’ represents a massive leap forward in how we verify authenticity. Their patented approach ensures that every participant in the lifecycle of a product can have absolute confidence in its provenance, safeguarding the integrity of commerce for everyone.”
With the new funding, Alitheon plans to expand deployment of FeaturePrint across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, automotive, and luxury goods sectors, positioning itself as a core infrastructure layer for digital verification of physical assets.