In an effort to feature more insurtechs, Digital Insurance has modified the format of our Meet the insurtech series.
Pat Kinsel, CEO and founder of Proof, shared the following responses, which have been lightly edited.
What's the origin story of the company?
Proof started as Notarize, a company founded in 2015 to bring notarizations online. Over time, it expanded into Proof—an identity authorization network designed to secure trust in all digital transactions through identity verification, fraud prevention, and transaction authentication, addressing broader market needs beyond notarization. While Notarize focused on digitizing notarization, Proof aims to create trust across all kinds of digital interactions. The company offers solutions that go beyond notarization, securing every facet of the digital economy, including identity verification and transaction integrity.
There is already a transaction rail for digital payments. Proof is the transaction rail for any type of identity authorization whether it's documents that need to be signed, notarized, or verified by video.
When was it founded and/or when was the product launched?
Notarize was founded in 2015, the company relaunched as Proof in 2023 as it expanded from an online notary network to an identity authorization network designed to secure digital transactions.
Can you tell me about the founders/founding team?
Pat Kinsel is the founder and CEO of Proof. He founded Proof after his own experience trying to notarize a document. He is on a mission to bring trust online with notarization that's simpler, smarter and safer than paper. Pat was previously a partner at Polaris Partners. Before joining Polaris and founding Proof, Pat was a co-founder & CEO of Spindle until it was acquired by Twitter in June 2013. Previously, he was at Microsoft. He is a member of TechStars Boston, Harvard's Innovation Lab and SparkLabs Korea.
Any meaning behind the company name?
The meaning behind the name is pretty much what the company provides – proof. For instance, proof of identity that helps organizations prevent fraud and secure all transactions in a digital world. In a world where so much business, so many transactions are done virtually, it can be hard to show proof of identity to avoid fraud and protect trillions of dollars – and that's what Proof seeks to do.
How many employees?
178 employees
Where is the company based?
Boston, MA
What pain points is the technology trying to solve?
1. Declining security in digital transactions which leads to declining trust in those transactions is a major pain point for Proof's customers: Industries are now predominantly meeting their customers and employees where they are - online. As transactions are digitized and customer interactions are made remote, industries are grappling with security from both a safety and financial standpoint.
"Can I trust this person?"
"Can I trust this interaction (e.g.record or authorization)?"
"Can I trust this content or file?"
2. The level of fraud and identity theft will only increase with the rise of Gen AI and deepfakes: We can no longer trust the people we transact with nor the records we rely upon. AI has made it incredibly easy to construct a fake identity, generate a fake video or falsify income statements, bank records, you name it.
What funding rounds has the company had?
Proof raised a $130 million Series D funding round in 2021. Earlier in 2025, we announced a strategic investment from State Farm Ventures, the corporate venture arm of State Farm.
What's ahead?
Proof envisions a world where identity verification is not a one-time event but a continuous, secure network ensuring trust at every stage of a digital interaction. Just as Shopify's Shop App revolutionized e-commerce by simplifying online purchases, Proof's identity verification network streamlines authentication across industries, making transactions faster, safer and more reliable.
Proof is building a global trust framework that seamlessly authenticates everything from contract signings to password resets. This network ensures that businesses can confidently interact with verified customers while individuals gain assurance that their identity is protected at every step. By creating persistent digital identity signatures, Proof eliminates redundant verifications, reduces friction, and enhances security. Furthermore, its AI-powered fraud detection capabilities protect against deepfakes, synthetic identities, and impersonation, reinforcing Proof as a foundational layer in the digital economy.
