Matías Woloski and Eugenio Pace

Matías Woloski and Eugenio Pace are simplifying security one click at a time.

“Are you who you say you are?” is an age-old problem that engineers Matías Woloski and Eugenio Pace set out to solve in a new way when they founded Auth0 in 2013. They saw that the acceleration of digitalization had created a need for better security around authentication and authorization for systems and software. Their strategy was to simplify a complex process — “to provide people with secure access to any application in one click or less.”

This strategy was built on two foundational principles: scalability and trustworthiness. Together they are a winning combination — Auth0 now has more than 9,000 enterprise customers, a presence in more than 70 countries and over 900 employees. Around 83% of apps today need authentication, so there is a huge, ongoing market for their platform. Investors have recognized this as well, launching Auth0 into unicorn status in 2020. In May 2021, Okta signed a definitive agreement to acquire Auth0 in a stock transaction valued at around US$6.5b.

Matías and Eugenio are keen to give back, and in 2020 they launched Auth0.org, their social impact program. It consists of various philanthropic initiatives for nongovernmental organizations and social enterprises, including secure access to technology and equal access to education. They have also joined the Pledge 1% movement, with a commitment to giving 1% of the company’s equity to nonprofits over the next 10 years.

*Information correct as of June 2021.