Ricardo Amper is a disruptive force in the evolving identity verification landscape. With a career that spans over two decades, Amper has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation. He is a seasoned entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Incode Technologies, a company at the forefront of the digital identity industry. His journey is marked by a strong commitment to reshaping the way we verify and authenticate our identities.
A Trailblazing Entrepreneurial Journey
Ricardo Amper embarked on his entrepreneurial journey at a young age. At the age of 19, long before the advent of Facebook and the modern social media landscape, he founded a social media network company in Mexico named La Burbuja Networks. This early foray into entrepreneurship foreshadowed his future endeavors and laid the foundation for his career.
In 2003, Amper co-founded Amco Foods, a functional beverage startup. This venture would prove to be a pivotal moment in his career as it was eventually acquired by the Bimbo Group, one of the largest consumer goods companies in the world. The acquisition of Amco Foods by such a significant player in the consumer goods industry is a testament to Amper’s leadership and entrepreneurial skills
This was just the start of this entrepreneurial journey. He later assumed the role of CEO and CTO of his family’s business, Amco Group. The company, initially a chemical distribution business, underwent a remarkable transformation under his leadership.
The transformation and reinvigoration of Amco Group ultimately led to the company’s acquisition by the Brenntag Group. This successful transition and sale underscored Amper’s prowess in creating and growing businesses across diverse sectors.
A Pivot to Incode Technologies
In 2015, Amper moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. It was in this dynamic and innovative environment that he founded Incode Technologies. The company’s initial focus was on photo-sharing, with a unique twist. Incode’s platform enabled the automatic sharing of photos using facial recognition technology, a concept that foreshadowed the company’s eventual pivot toward the digital identity industry.
This pivot to the identity industry marked a turning point for Incode Technologies. The company evolved into a pioneer in the field, offering some of the world’s most advanced and accurate identity verification technology. In a world where digital identities play an increasingly pivotal role, Incode’s solutions have the potential to transform the way we verify and authenticate our identities.
Disrupting the Digital Identity Landscape
Ricardo Amper revealed the disruptive nature of the work he and Incode Technologies are undertaking. The central theme of their mission is to eliminate traditional paper-based identification systems. Paper IDs, which have been used for thousands of years, are often the foundation of our identity verification processes. In many cases, it is human beings who verify these paper IDs, introducing a significant margin of error due to factors such as bias and fatigue.
Amper’s mission is to replace archaic paper IDs with automated AI-driven identity verification systems. In doing so, Incode Technologies aims to make the verification process not only more accurate but also more secure. The benefits of this transformation are multi-fold, extending to a variety of industries such as government, financial services, healthcare, travel and hospitality, and retail.
One of the key advantages of Incode’s solutions is the ability to provide users with a privacy-centric experience. In an age where data privacy and identity security are paramount, this approach offers a significant advantage to both businesses and individuals.
Mentorship and the Power of Learning
Throughout his journey, Ricardo Amper has benefitted from the guidance and mentorship of individuals who played pivotal roles in his life. He points to his father as his early mentor, emphasizing the importance of trust and daring to dream big. Amper’s father introduced him to the world of business at a young age, allowing him to learn by observing and participating in real-world experiences.
In more recent years, Amper has found a mentor and coach based in Jerusalem, an Israeli Rabbi, psychologist, and businessman. This mentor has played a significant role in helping Amper align his purpose with his values.
Disruption: Balancing Innovation and Tradition
The concept of disruption is multifaceted. While it is often associated with positive change and innovation, it can also be a source of pain and discomfort. Disruption challenges the status quo, and whether it is considered positive or negative depends on the long-term benefits it brings to society.
Ricardo Amper emphasizes that the longevity of traditional systems or structures doesn’t necessarily equate to superiority. For instance, the use of paper-based identification has been in practice for thousands of years, but as we transition into a digital society, it’s essential to evaluate the effectiveness and security of these systems.
Amper believes that transitioning from physical, manual identity verification systems to digital, automated solutions will ultimately benefit society. It will lead to enhanced scalability, improved accuracy, and greater protection of individual privacy. The transformation may introduce short-term challenges, but the long-term benefits are likely to outweigh the initial discomfort.
The Power of Strengths and Self-Improvement
Ricardo Amper attributes much of his personal and professional growth to the book “Now Discover Your Strengths” by Gallup. The book underscores the importance of focusing on one’s strengths rather than trying to fix weaknesses. Amper’s interpretation of this principle is reflected in his management style at Incode Technologies. He encourages his employees to leverage their strengths to achieve their best performance.
A Life Lesson Quote: “The Limit is a Decision”
Amper’s favorite life lesson quote, “The limit is a decision,” carries a powerful message. It emphasizes the role of personal agency in determining one’s limits. It’s a reminder that we have the power to define our boundaries and decide how far we are willing to go to achieve our goals.
Inspiring a Movement: Thinking Big
Ricardo Amper’s vision for inspiring a movement centers on encouraging individuals to think big, cast aside limitations, and relentlessly pursue their dreams. In a world where innovation and change are the driving forces of progress, Amper’s call to always strive for more resonates as a powerful message of growth and transformation.
Ricardo Amper’s entrepreneurial journey is marked by a series of remarkable achievements and a commitment to disrupting the digital identity landscape. His work at Incode Technologies represents a significant step in reshaping how we verify and authenticate our identities in an increasingly digital world.