How SQR Is Putting People Back at the Center of Digital Identity

Digital identity is one of the defining challenges of our time. As our lives move increasingly online, the ability to securely prove who we are — without giving away too much — is essential to equity, privacy, and trust.

Shelley Langan-Newton, founder of SQR, is on a mission to reimagine identity verification from the ground up. Representing the Isle of Man at the Interceltic Business Forum this August, she brings a bold vision for inclusive, consent-based identity infrastructure that puts people first — not processes.

We spoke with Shelley about what led her to build SQR, the problem it solves, and what it means to represent her Celtic nation on an international stage.

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What inspired you to start your company?

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My journey into tech wasn’t linear — I never imagined I’d be here, but every experience led me to SQR.

At first, I wanted to build a company rooted in kindness and inclusion — one that valued people and the planet alongside profit. But working in telecoms opened my eyes to a deeper issue: the internet wasn’t built with identity in mind.

Identity is about people, not just technology. In our digital world, we lack privacy-preserving, intelligent infrastructure that lets people prove who they are securely, efficiently, and equitably. I’m proud — and nerdily excited — to be part of solving that problem.

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Tell us what your startup does. What problem are you solving?

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SQR is revolutionising how we prove our identities.

Today, proving who you are is slow, repetitive, and vulnerable to fraud. Manual checks, repeated sign-ups, and clunky systems create risk and frustration.

We’re building intelligent identity infrastructure that’s secure, reusable, and consent-driven. With SQR, you verify once and reuse many times — always in control of your data and with your explicit consent.

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Who benefits most from your solution?

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Representing the Isle of Man is a deep honour and a true privilege. This island has given me the safety, inspiration, and community to grow as a founder and as a person.

That sense of safety is at the heart of what SQR stands for. We believe everyone deserves the tools to navigate the digital world securely and with dignity.

To represent the Manx community and bring our values to the Interceltic stage is incredibly meaningful. It’s our chance to show that small nations can lead in global innovation, with heart, purpose, and ambition.

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What’s Next?

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Shelley and the five other winners of the Interceltic Startup Challenge will pitch their startups at the Interceltic Business Forum in Lorient, France on August 4th.

There, they’ll meet investors, connect with leaders from across Celtic regions, and take their solutions to the global stage.

🎟️ Want to see the future of Celtic innovation? Join us in Lorient on August 4th.

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