Accessgrid.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/austonbunsen/

***Company Overview***

AccessGrid is a startup focused on modernizing access control through a wallet-first, API-only platform. Their goal is to make issuing and managing mobile and wallet-native credentials as simple as calling modern web
APIs. The company supports integrating with existing hardware when possible but primarily targets developers and product teams who want to embed access capabilities directly into applications and workflows.

***Founder / Executive Profile***

Auston Bunsen is the co-founder and CEO of AccessGrid. Before AccessGrid, he co-founded QuickNode, a major blockchain developer platform. His background is deeply rooted in infrastructure-as-a-service,
developer tooling, and modern API ecosystems. He entered the access control industry after observing how outdated, fragmented, and opaque it was—particularly compared to the developer-first approach common in
modern SaaS.

***Why They Fit the Series***

AccessGrid is the most disruptive entrant in your lineup. Auston brings an outsider perspective and a developer-centric philosophy that challenges traditional pricing, integration patterns, and channel structures.
They embody a new model where physical access becomes programmable infrastructure, not specialized hardware.

***Key Angles & Themes***

• Why an API and developer-tools founder chose access control.
• Rationale behind an API-only, wallet-first architecture.
• The impact of transparent pricing (e.g., $500/month + per-credential fees).
• How AccessGrid views the future of integrators, OEMs, and PACS vendors.
• What constitutes a 'modern' access platform vs. legacy baggage.
Potential Controversies / Hot Takes
• Transparent pricing disrupting traditional channel negotiations.
• Limitations of an API-only model for customers who want turnkey hardware.
• Whether wallet-native credentials can realistically replace physical cards in all use cases.

Music:

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