Aidan McCarty

Aidan McCarty is an entrepreneur, published scientist, and recognized voice in the digital identity and cybersecurity sectors. With a background in biochemistry and biophysics, McCarty ranked among the top 25 GPAs at Stanford University and is a three-time peer-reviewed published scientist. McCarty left Stanford to pursue ventures at the intersection of technology, civic engagement, and digital security.

Before focusing on digital identity, McCarty created "Be Heard," managed SENSA Labs—Stanford's social entrepreneurship incubator—for two years, and taught Hacking4Defense, a program introducing lean innovation to the Department of Defense. "Be Heard" was a platform designed to enable verified constituents to contact their representatives, earning recognition through the OZY Genius Award and the Stanford Idea Competition. The OZY Genius Awards are presented to 10 college students each year to support ambitious ideas.

McCarty co-founded Unum ID with his brother, Liam McCarty, developing software that consolidates multiple verifications into a single identity shared across companies. As a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, McCarty built Unum ID into a digital identity startup supported by Tim Draper, Stanford professors, Franklin Templeton, and Samsung NEXT. The company specializes in reusable digital identity, collaborating with Fortune 500 companies and startups to establish a network of verified users who maintain control over their data. Unum ID distinguishes itself by enabling identities to be reused across organizations, addressing challenges in ID verification and digital commerce.

McCarty has stated that reusable IDs help businesses achieve higher throughput rates, reduce fraud, and lower customer acquisition costs. Unum ID advocates for stringent verification techniques and shared data across companies to ensure user authenticity. The company addresses the growing demand for reusable IDs as AI-driven synthetic fraud increases, with McCarty noting a significant rise in synthetic identity fraud linked to new AI algorithms. As a member of the Forbes Technology Council and a contributor to publications covering cybersecurity and digital commerce, McCarty is also a public speaker who leverages expertise in entrepreneurship, politics, science, and technology to address challenges in digital identity and online security.