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Introduction: Digital Democracy is No Longer a Concept—It’s Here
As global democracies continue to battle declining voter participation, rising election costs, and diminishing trust in electoral systems, a new wave of innovation is reshaping how we engage with the democratic process. Sequent, a cybersecurity startup rooted in cryptographic integrity and open-source technology, is leading this transformation with its next-generation digital voting platform. Having raised \$1.35 million in pre-seed funding, Sequent is addressing one of the most stubborn problems of governance—how to securely modernize elections for over 4 billion eligible voters worldwide.
the Original
Sequent was founded with the mission to bridge the technological potential of digital democracy with its real-world application. It uses advanced cryptography and open-source protocols to deliver elections that are transparent, verifiable, and secure—offering a modern alternative to outdated, expensive mail-in systems. The global election administration market currently exceeds \$18.9 billion, and around 20% of votes are cast remotely. Yet, the majority of these remote votes are paper-based, exposing significant inefficiencies and vulnerabilities.
Targeting governments, unions, and educational institutions, Sequent ensures end-to-end verifiability while protecting voter privacy and ballot secrecy. With deployments in over 210 elections and a user base of 3.6 million, Sequent has already demonstrated its scalability and reliability. One of its most notable milestones was its partnership with the Philippines’ Commission on Elections, which enabled over 1.2 million overseas citizens to vote online securely during the 2025 national elections.
The founding team—Shai Bargil (CEO), Eduardo Robles (CTO), and David Ruescas (Head of Research)—brings deep expertise in cybersecurity, open-source systems, and cryptographic research. The company operates with 15 employees and is hiring across tech and business development roles.
Sequent’s platform complies with international standards, including those from the Council of Europe, the U.S. Department of Labor, and Canadian digital governance frameworks. Its main competitors include legacy systems from ES\&S, Dominion, and Smartmatic, which are often criticized for lacking transparency and relying on closed-source software. Sequent aims to become the default infrastructure provider for democratic elections worldwide, using its funding to scale operations in North America and Europe.
🧠 What Undercode Say:
Sequent isn’t just another startup with a digital solution—it’s architecting the infrastructure for democracy in the 21st century. In a world where trust in institutions is eroding, Sequent’s commitment to transparency through open-source architecture is a revolutionary stand. Unlike incumbents who operate behind opaque curtains, Sequent invites inspection, auditability, and accountability. That’s not a feature—it’s a fundamental shift in philosophy.
The implications are enormous. By removing geographic and bureaucratic barriers to participation, Sequent directly addresses voter disenfranchisement—a problem not only in emerging democracies but in established ones like the U.S. and U.K. too. The use of end-to-end cryptographic verification ensures that votes are not just cast but also counted correctly, restoring faith in the democratic process.
Furthermore, Sequent is cleverly aligning itself with global regulatory standards. By adhering to frameworks like CM/Rec(2017)5 and CAN/DGSI 111-1:2024, Sequent isn’t just building software—it’s building policy-compatible infrastructure. This opens doors not only in liberal democracies but also in politically sensitive regions that require higher compliance thresholds.
Its recent success in the Philippines election wasn’t just a milestone—it was proof of concept. In fact, it may become the go-to reference case for governments hesitant to adopt online voting platforms. The numbers speak for themselves: over 1.2 million voters in 77 countries participated securely. That scale and reliability will be a key selling point for future partnerships.
But
In terms of competition, legacy providers like Dominion and Smartmatic are vulnerable due to the political controversies they’ve faced and their limited adaptability. Sequent’s transparency-first, auditability-driven approach gives it a competitive edge in a market hungry for reform.
The founders also give Sequent a strong intellectual foundation. With expertise ranging from military-grade cybersecurity to academic physics, the team is uniquely positioned to translate complex technology into robust civic infrastructure. Their advisory board—featuring scholars from CalTech and KTH—adds further credibility and forward-looking depth to Sequent’s research and deployment roadmap.
Sequent is not merely keeping up with the digitalization of governance—it’s setting the standard. The \$1.35 million pre-seed funding might seem modest, but it’s strategically placed. By scaling its engineering and commercial operations in both North America and Europe, Sequent is positioning itself at the crossroads of global policy, tech, and democratic reform.
🔍 Fact Checker Results
✅ Claim: Sequent powered 1.2 million overseas votes in the Philippines – Verified via official partnership announcements with Comelec.
✅ Claim: Platform is end-to-end verifiable and open source – Confirmed through Sequent’s public documentation and GitHub repositories.
✅ Claim: Legacy providers like Dominion lack transparency – Supported by multiple public audits and criticisms in recent election cycles.
📊 Prediction
Sequent is poised to become the foundational layer for global online voting infrastructure within the next 5–7 years. With increasing cyberattacks on democratic institutions and growing logistical challenges in traditional elections, governments will turn to platforms like Sequent not as a luxury, but as a necessity. Expect increased adoption in Europe and Latin America first—regions where digital ID systems are already robust—followed by expansion into Africa and Southeast Asia as digital trust frameworks mature. If Sequent can maintain its security-first ethos while simplifying UX for voters and administrators, it will likely surpass legacy vendors and define the standard for digital democracy in the post-2025 era.
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Reported By: calcalistechcom_da20d39663de8e024affced5
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