highperformr logo

Cogent's Overview

Total employees271
HeadquartersPasadena
Founded1990

Cogent Systems, Inc. was a global biometrics technology company that provided automated fingerprint identification systems (AFIS), palmprint identification systems, and other biometric solutions. Their products and services were utilized by governments, law enforcement agencies, and commercial enterprises for security, identification, and verification purposes. Cogent Systems was known for its advanced algorithms and integrated system solutions. The company was acquired by 3M in 2010, and 3M's identity management business, including Cogent's assets, was later acquired by Gemalto in 2017, which is now part of Thales Group.

Where is Cogent's Headquarters?

HQ Function

Served as the primary corporate office, housing executive leadership, research and development, engineering, sales, and administrative functions for its global biometrics operations.

Notable Features:

Likely housed secure R&D labs for developing and testing sensitive biometric technologies and algorithms. Standard corporate office facilities for a tech company of its size.

Work Culture:

As a technology leader in biometrics, the culture was likely innovative, R&D-driven, with a strong emphasis on engineering excellence, precision, and security, given the nature of its products and clientele (government, law enforcement).

HQ Significance:

The Pasadena headquarters was the nerve center for Cogent's global operations, product development, and strategic decision-making, establishing it as a key player in the biometrics industry.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters would have aimed to reflect values such as innovation, technological leadership, security, and reliability, crucial for its biometrics business.

Location:

Prior to its acquisition, Cogent Systems had a significant global presence, providing biometric identification solutions and support services to government agencies (law enforcement, border control, civil ID programs) and commercial entities in numerous countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and other regions. This involved direct sales offices, partnerships, and on-ground technical support teams.

Street Address:

650 South Euclid Avenue

City:

Pasadena

State/Province:

CA

Country:

USA

Cogent's Global Presence

Washington D.C. Metro Area (e.g., Arlington, VA), USA

Address: [Specific historical address not readily available]

To maintain close proximity and relationships with key U.S. government decision-makers and agencies utilizing biometric identification solutions.

Various international locations (e.g., Europe, Asia)

Address: [Specific historical addresses not readily available]

To expand market reach and provide localized support for Cogent's biometric systems globally.

Buying Intent Signals for Cogent

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Executive Team of Cogent

As of April 2025, Cogent' leadership includes:

Ming Hsieh - Founder, Chairman, President, and CEO
James L. Ousley - President and Chief Operating Officer (at time of 3M acquisition)
Paul S. Kim - Chief Financial Officer (at time of 3M acquisition)

Investors of Cogent

Cogent has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Publicly Traded (NASDAQ: COGT before delisting post-acquisition)
Various institutional investors (e.g., mutual funds, pension funds while publicly traded)

Executive New Hires/Exits in the Last 12 Months

Hire0
Exits0

Cogent Systems was acquired by 3M in 2010 and its assets are now part of Thales. There are no executive movements for Cogent Systems as an independent entity in the last 12 months. Key executive changes occurred around the time of its acquisition by 3M.

Departures

N/A, Company was acquired; no current executive departures for Cogent Systems as a standalone entity.

New Appointments:

N/A, Company was acquired; no current executive appointments for Cogent Systems as a standalone entity.

Technology (Tech Stack) used by Cogent

Discover the tools Cogent uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Cogent Email Formats and Examples

Based on common corporate practices for a company named Cogent Systems, email formats likely involved combinations of first name, last name, and initials. The domain would have been cogentsystems.com, which is no longer active for this entity.

[first_initial][last]@cogentsystems.com (e.g., jsmith@cogentsystems.com) OR [first].[last]@cogentsystems.com (e.g., jane.smith@cogentsystems.com)

Format

mhsieh@cogentsystems.com (Example based on former CEO, domain inactive)

Example

0 (Domain inactive due to acquisition)%

Success rate

News and media

3M News CenterDecember 1, 2010

3M Completes Acquisition of Cogent Systems, Inc.

3M announced it has completed its acquisition of Cogent Systems Inc., a leading provider of commercial, multimodal biometric systems for $10.50 per share. The acquisition expanded 3M's security technology offerings....more

SEC Filing (SC 14D9)August 30, 2010

Cogent Systems, Inc. Agrees to be Acquired by 3M for $10.50 Per Share in Cash

Cogent Systems, Inc. announced that it had entered into a definitive merger agreement with 3M Company under which 3M would acquire Cogent for $10.50 per share in an all-cash transaction, valued at approximately $943 million....more

Gemalto Press Release (now Thales)May 1, 2017

Gemalto completes acquisition of 3M's Identity Management business

Gemalto announced the completion of the acquisition of 3M's Identity Management business, which included Cogent Systems' biometric technologies. This strengthened Gemalto's position in the government biometrics solutions market....more

Highperformr’s free tools for company research

Explore Employees by Region or Country

See where a company’s workforce is located, by country or region.

View Funding Details

View past and recent funding rounds with amounts and investors.

Understand Revenue Insights

Understand company revenue estimates and financial scale.

Track Active Job Openings

Track active roles and hiring trends to spot growth signals.

Review Product and Offerings

Discover what a company offers—products, platforms, and solutions.

Get SIC or NAICS Codes

Get the company’s official SIC and NAICS classifications.

Analyze Website Traffic Trends

Analyze visitor volume, engagement, and top traffic sources.

Discover Social Profiles and Engagement

Explore LinkedIn, Twitter, and other active social profiles.

Identify Top Competitors

Identify top competitors based on similar business traits.

Research and Discover Companies with Highperformr — Smarter, Faster

Explore companies in depth — from the tech they use to recent funding, hiring trends, and buyer signals — all in one powerful view.

Highperformr AI helps you surface the right accounts and enrich your CRM with verified company and contact insights, so your teams can prioritize and engage faster.

  • Track intent signals to find buyers who are actively in-market
  • Enrich contacts and companies instantly, no need to switch tools
  • Automate workflows to stay ahead of every change
  • Connect your CRM & tools for seamless data sync and activation

Thousands of companies, including Cogent, are just a search away.