The HIT int. has been awarded first place in the Start-Up Pitching Competition at Identity Week Europe 2025, one of the most prominent global events dedicated to identity technologies and secure credentials.

The competition brought together 40 selected start-ups from across the identity and security industry, each presenting innovative solutions addressing identity verification, authentication, biometrics, and document protection. After pitching in front of an expert jury composed of industry leaders and technology specialists, The HIT int. was selected as the overall winner.

At the centre of the winning presentation was Iconiq, next-generation holographic security element designed for polycarbonate identity documents, including ID cards, passports, and driver’s licences. Iconiq combines advanced holography, encrypted 2D/3D information, and multi-level verification for a new approach to document security.

The solution allows authenticity to be verified through simple visual inspection, specialized light sources, or forensic reconstruction, creating a powerful combination of usability and high-level security. The jury recognized Iconiq for its innovative concept, practical implementation, and compatibility with existing document production processes, ultimately awarding it first place among the competing start-ups.