Unmio one of 10 2025 J.M.K. Innovation Prize recipients
Unmio, a platform for secure data sharing and verification, has been chosen as one of ten recipients of the 2025 J.M.K. Innovation Prize from the J.M. Kaplan Fund. The award will provide USD $175,000 in funding and multi-year support to serve communities where privacy and data protection are key concerns.
From a field of 3,790 applications, Unmio was selected for offering tools that enable organisations to securely manage and verify sensitive data, particularly in settings where privacy risks are acute. The platform was created by Entidad, a public benefit corporation providing technology to the social sector.
Platform capabilities
Unmio allows social impact organisations to collaborate and manage sensitive information using a consent-based, decentralised system. Within the platform, each Trusted Data Network is overseen by the client organisation and the community involved. This structure is intended to preserve privacy and allow communities more control over their data, without reliance on commercial platforms or centralised oversight.
Credentials such as proof of income, eligibility, or skills can be issued and verified using Unmio, removing the need for single-point gatekeeping and reducing exposure to surveillance. The platform aims to balance dignified data management with the practical needs faced by service organisations working with vulnerable groups, including immigrants and low-wage workers.
Entidad trialled the platform's methodology by enabling a secure private data network linking six nonprofits over the past three years. This network supported the distribution of more than USD $80 million in USDA disaster relief payments to 120,000 farmworkers across 49 states and U.S. territories. The experience of safeguarding beneficiary information within this pilot laid the groundwork for Unmio's broader application.
Planned expansion
The J.M.K. Prize funding is expected to support the rollout of Unmio to additional organisations and enhance its credential verification features. Efforts will concentrate on establishing a scalable, trust-based infrastructure for digital collaboration within and between social sector stakeholders.
"With Unmio, we're proving that technology can protect privacy without limiting access. Communities that are already marginalised shouldn't have to choose between safety and support. The J.M.K. Innovation Prize will help us to expand Unmio beyond our pilot network and further our commitment to transparency, consent, and community-led tech implementation," said Jesus Torres, CEO, Entidad.
Network support
Recipients of this year's J.M.K. Innovation Prize join an existing network of 60 past prizewinners across the United States. This network facilitates ongoing collaboration, mentorship and strategic input through activities organised by the J.M. Kaplan Fund.
"Unmio is building digital tools and trust for communities too often forced to trade privacy for access," said Julia Bator, Executive Director, J.M. Kaplan Fund. "Their work reflects the ingenuity and purpose at the heart of the J.M.K. Innovation Prize, and we are thrilled to support them over the coming years."
