6 cybersecurity startups that have caught our eye

In this day and age, it feels that simply breathing adds to the evergrowing data of the world. Whether you are on your phone, home computer, or even your smartwatch, everywhere you go, you are sharing your data, and maybe accessing others people's data as well. Users nowadays want convenience but are faced with the potential trade-off of sacrificing their privacy – and that’s not something users like to give up easily. The last decade has seen the tides shifting to privacy-first technology, from data protection laws to innovative solutions.

We selected the top six startups that are breaking down the barriers to a more secure and private internet and doing their part to keep our data safe. 

Xayn

With so much of our time spent online, it's scary to think about how much of our personal information is out there. Berlin-based company, Xayn’s number one goal is to protect consumers’ digital privacy by providing users with the Xayn News Reader, a personalized, continuous news feed. The secure media consumption ensures there is no data storage or advertising, something that Google could only dream of. Its mission of driving independent and free media is refreshing to see. The platform is powered by AI technology and is available to use on a desktop and smartphone, making the new wave of safe and secure media consumption effortless.

It all started as a research project at The University of Oxford and Imperial College London by Leif-Nissen Lundbæk (PhD) and Professor Michael Huth. Together with Felix Hahmann, they founded Xain AG in 2017 before rebranding to XAYN in 2020. With 30% of the company’s employees holding PhDs, over $22 million in funding, and a carbon-neutral business model, this startup is on an uphill trajectory. 

Web3Auth

Where is security more important than your wallet? And I don’t mean the wallet in your purse, but rather your Web3 wallet storing your cryptocurrency. Setting up a Web3 wallet often requires private keys, and seed phrases to ensure it remains secure, but also creates a barrier to joining. This is where Web3Auth comes in. Web3Auth is a pluggable infrastructure that enables Web3 wallets and applications to provide seamless user logins to both mainstream and Web3 users. You don’t have to be a blockchain genius to use this tool. Authentication is available through passwordless emails, SMS, and linked OAuth via Google, Twitter, Discord, and Reddit. By utilizing its own key infrastructure, a variety of platforms are able to effortlessly onboard users, without the user having to worry about key management or if their assets are secure at all.

The company's technology has been by more than 300 applications and wallets to secure over four million users’ private keys. Leading wallets and applications like Binance Extension Wallet, Keplr, and Skyweaver use Web3Auth in their core flows to boost conversion rates, reduce loss, and support tickets. Its list of trusted partners continues to grow. Clearly, it's not just us that believe everyone should have access to easy-to-use security.

Rakuten Viber

Rakuten Viber is a messaging platform with multiple features in place to ensure its users’ messages remain private. Not even the platform itself can look at what users are sending to one another, meaning no data is sold to third parties to target them with ads. With end-to-end encryption by default, disappearing messages, hidden number chats, and the ability to edit and delete messages for all, users can be sure that their communications remain as secure as they want them to be. They have even implemented two-factor authentication to ensure users’ accounts remain secure.

The messaging platform’s commitment to security has also played a role in its evolution into a superapp. Last year, the trusted platform launched Viber Pay, a digital payments solution with a mobile wallet available through the Viber app. It’s not just consumers taking notice, but businesses are flocking to the platform as well, putting their trust in its secure features.

BrandShield

BrandShield is a brand-oriented digital risk protection company providing threat detection and remediation solutions. The platform enables brands to monitor, detect and remove phishing attacks. Their array of products offered continues to expand and they recently launched an anti-counterfeiting service that proactively searches online sources. With a 98% success rate, BrandShield is protecting hundreds of brands from counterfeit schemes and making the internet a safer environment for all.

The Israeli-based company was most recently recognized by Frost & Sullivan as a leader in the Digital Risk Protection Services. Whether it is the CEO of a Fortune 500 company being impersonated, or a hacker claiming to be a company to consumers online, it remains a big concern to enterprises no matter the industry – pharmaceutical, finance, retail, online gaming, sports, fashion, or crypto. Despite how savvy consumers are becoming, you can never be too safe.

SentinelOne

As the digital ecosystem expands, fraudsters and data hackers become more intelligent in the ways that they access sensitive data. SentinelOne is an AI endpoint security firm that protects your computer with anti-malware and anti-exploit protection. The company offers an array of security features to match a business's desired requirements.

SentinelOne goes from strength to strength. After our great work together on their initial strategy, the company was able to go public last June. Since then, SentinelOne launched a $100 million fund called S Ventures, to invest in the next generation of cybersecurity startups. With a combination of S Ventures funding and SentinelOne’s innovative experience, you can expect more startups to lead the way to a privacy-first future.

CripText

Checking emails is part of everyone’s daily routine and they use them in every aspect of their life – their career, retail, banking, real estate, or to message their family and friends. With so much information circulating over emails, it's important to trust the service used. CripText is an encrypted email service that puts security and privacy as its top priority.

The company started in 2014 as an encrypted extension to already existing inboxes, but just a year later it decided to build a service from the ground up entirely on its own. Its unique features allow you to track when, where, and who opens your emails and attachments sent over email and even allow you to recall emails if you no longer want them to be shared. Similar to Snapchat, CripText has incorporated a feature that enables you to send emails on a self-destruct setting so emails automatically disappear after a certain amount of time. It has patented a screenshot-proof method that hides a user's name on the chat screen if a screenshot is taken. Whether you’re sending sensitive information, whether it's your own or a company you work for, CripText may be something to consider.

Protecting data is every business’ concern

Hackers work hard, but these companies work harder. Staying vigilant online is a full-time job but these savvy startups make it look easy. They understand the many ways consumers and businesses could be taken advantage of and made it their top priority to create a safer online environment, from creating privacy-first search engines, and easy-to-use authentication, to email security. Although digital transformation means our online data is everywhere, it shouldn’t be a concern if the right measures are taken. These startups are paving the way for more innovative cybersecurity technology to come.