Introducing our new VP of Sales and Business Development: Sergei Badeka!
Keyo is excited to welcome our new VP of Business Development, Sergei Badeka! Sergei brings more than 15 years of experience in sales, business strategy, and partnership development to our growing team.
Let’s dive into an interview with Sergei to learn more about his experience and what motivated him to join the Keyo team.
Tell us about yourself
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my wife and our two daughters, ages 10 and 6. Originally, my career path was not in sales. I have a degree in Microbiology and started my career working in labs, specializing in genetic modifications. One day I was asked to help in the sales department and that’s when I discovered I enjoyed talking to people more than I enjoyed working with petri dishes and micropipettes.
What company were you at before joining Keyo and how long were you working there?
Prior to joining Keyo, I worked at Redrock Biometrics. I began my journey as a Director of Business Development, but given the early-stage nature of the company, my role was multifaceted and included securing partnerships, managing investor relations, and spearheading fundraising efforts. Towards the end of my tenure there, the board voted for me to take over as an interim CEO until they could find someone from the Fintech industry. Prior to that, I ran large sales teams for a subsidiary of Textron, Inc.
What inspired your interest in the biometrics industry?
I wasn’t very interested in biometrics until I learned about palm biometrics. Fingerprints and facial recognition didn’t seem like quite the right solutions for mass adoption given their challenges with limited data and consumer privacy respectively, but when palm biometrics technology started becoming available, it quickly became clear to me that it could fill a void in the space.
What motivated you to become part of the Keyo team?
Given my involvement in the biometrics space, I’ve been aware of Keyo for several years and I’ve always been impressed by the company’s devices and marketing. Keyo always had thoughtfully designed devices, websites, and marketing materials. However, it was my deeper engagement with the executive team that revealed the company’s true strength: a culture-first approach, which became the most important factor to me. In my experience, when people are happy to come to work, they are motivated to turn the company into a success.
Why do you believe Keyo is well-positioned in the market?
The ecosystem for palm biometrics is growing globally. People are witnessing the increasing presence of palm technology across various industries, leading to an increased trust in its privacy and security. The question of “who’s using it and where” is now being answered. Whether it’s payments at the grocery store or checking in to see your physician at a hospital, people are running into palm biometrics in one way or another. Keyo’s ability to deliver its own matching algorithm with its proprietary hardware and software is setting up the company for rapid growth in the immediate future.
What do you like to do outside of work for fun?
I try to mix it up! For my zen I like to ride my road bike. When I’m with friends, we typically find ourselves on a golf course. Most of the time, however, I’m spending time with our girls. Our oldest daughter is into acting and we’ve been driving her up and down California for her jobs. She does everything from still ads to feature films. She is featured in Ariat clothing line ads, Lumen metabolic breath commercials, and City of Love on Prime Video.
We’re so excited to welcome Sergei to the team! Keyo is helping partners around the globe make payments, earn loyalty rewards, and unlock doors with a wave — and we can’t wait to see what we can do with Sergei on board in 2024 and beyond! His leadership, expertise, and passion for biometrics will be invaluable as we continue to expand our reach and deliver unparalleled value to our customers.
