We are a pioneer in digital access. We convert the mobile phone into a smart key for universal access to anything — ready to use in a day, and at a fraction of the cost of a traditional access control system.
The Open Access Platform gives real estate owners and security companies new business: it raises the utilisation rate, and the value, of a property. We are growing globally, with the mission of digitalising the world’s 40 billion doors.
Bitwards was founded in 2016, and its roots are in Finnish high technology, access control development and academic research. The development of the technology began at the Finnish access control pioneer Flexim Security and drew on work done at Nokia Research Center.
Founders Eljas Saastamoinen and Niklas Kaustinen have a long history in the security business. In 2014, while working at Flexim Security, they started a technology project to create a mobile key service. The smart key protocol was born there, and it is the foundation the platform still rests on.
They went looking for partners worldwide to join the team, and found two: Jan-Erik Ekberg, then at Nokia Research Center and today an adjunct professor at Aalto University, and Pekka Laitinen, who had worked alongside him at the research centre for sixteen years. Jan-Erik took on the lock software; Pekka built the mobile software.
Then something unexpected happened, as it does in any good story: Assa Abloy acquired Flexim Security. The founders negotiated to buy the Smart Key Platform technology and obtained all the related IPR — and Bitwards was launched in December 2016 by Eljas and Niklas with co-founders Jan-Erik and Pekka.
Bitwards patented the technology, released the Access Platform in late 2018, and has focused ever since on developing the platform to become a pioneer in mobile access. The underlying technology comes from mobile payments, which is where the security model comes from too.
Technology development kicks off at Flexim Security. The smart key protocol is written.
The first mobile access prototype opens a door.
The founders negotiate to buy the Smart Key Platform technology and all the related IPR.
Eljas Saastamoinen and Niklas Kaustinen found the company with co-founders Jan-Erik Ekberg and Pekka Laitinen.
The first hardware manufacturer integrates Bitwards technology into its own products.
The first commercial deployment of Bitwards, at Aalto University — still the largest campus on the platform.
Stanley Security becomes the first value added reseller of Bitwards.
Fifteen hardware manufacturers are using Bitwards technology in their products.
Hundreds of customers, over a hundred thousand users and more than two million door openings a year — delivered by partners in each local market.
Bitwards is sold, installed and supported by local partners — security integrators, resellers, IT service providers and lock specialists in your own market. You get a European platform with someone nearby to call when a door needs attention.
Bitwards is a service, not a shipped product. New releases reach every customer several times a year — no upgrade projects, and no version left behind.
Bitwards Oy
Visiting address: Upseerinkatu 1, FI-02600 Espoo, Finland
Postal address: Upseerinkatu 1–3, FI-02600 Espoo, Finland
Whether you manage buildings, install access for a living, or make hardware that should be smarter — we'll point you to the right answer, or to the right partner near you.