lettrs, Inc has reached its funding threshold of $3 million for its new e-signature service for the micro-blogging site Twitter. The new, patented e-signature service will add a personal touch to the Twitter service. The service will be called ‘Twignature.’
Commenting on the company’s future plans, Drew Bartkiewicz, Founder and CEO of lettrs, Inc. stated: “We are very pleased to expand our cyber signatures technology with a scalable e-signatures service for social networks, starting with ‘Twignature.”
In a sense, Twignature is modeled on a service like Docusign, although the aim here is to provide a service for social and personal communications. The Twignature service allows for the generation of verified e-signatures on Twitter. This offers advantages for companies and brands in order to show that the tweet is genuine. This approach also goes someway to preventing ‘fake’ accounts and the minimizes the activities of ‘trolls’.
The Twignature app has been launched on Apple, accessible via iTunes. The aim is to plug a gap in the marketplace for authenticated, distributed and sponsored signatures across the Twitter network.
The Twignature service makes use of smartphone biometrics as well as blockchain distribution principles (the term ‘blockchain of digital signatures’ has been used as part of the promotion). The biometric-style approach is employed to activate a unique number, ledger and seal of authenticity for signed Tweets. The ‘signature’ includes signature location, device, and also verifies if the original signature was associated with a major brand.
Behind the development is Bartkiewicz, who has been named as one of Goldman Sachs’ “Top 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs”. Bartkiewicz, has patented a unique method for authenticating mobile signatures.
Longer-term plans with Twignature include a service that will be able to verify, authenticate and “notarize” e-signatures across social networks. This is seen as important for emerging currency networks like Bitcoin, and for the use of transactional ledgers.
In addition, Dr. Harvey W. Schiller, who is a former U.S. Olympic Committee Executive Director, has joined the company as its Chairman.
