ProtonMail was founded in 2013 by a group of scientists from CERN, including Dr. Andy Yen, Dr. Bart Butler, Jason Stockman, and Wei Sun. The company is headquartered in Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland, and operates under the name Proton AG. It focuses on providing secure and private internet services.
ProtonMail was conceived in response to concerns about mass surveillance following revelations by Edward Snowden. The idea was born in the CERN cafeteria with the goal of creating an email service that prioritizes user privacy through end-to-end encryption. ProtonMail initially launched in public beta in 2014 and quickly gained popularity, necessitating server capacity expansion just three days after launch. By 2022, ProtonMail had amassed nearly 70 million users.
ProtonMail's initial funding came from a successful crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo in 2014, raising over $550,000 from more than 10,000 donors. Additional funding was received from the Fondation Genevoise pour l'Innovation Technologique (FONGIT) and Charles River Ventures in 2015. As of 2022, ProtonMail no longer had venture capital investors and relied on community support for financial backing.
Proton Mail: Provides end-to-end encrypted email services accessible via webmail, desktop apps, and mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Proton VPN: Offers secure VPN services to protect user privacy online.
Proton Drive: Encrypted cloud storage for secure file sharing.
Proton Calendar: A privacy-focused calendar service to keep schedules private.
Proton has expanded its product lineup over the years to include additional privacy tools like Proton Drive and Proton Pass. The company also introduced address verification and Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) support to enhance interoperability with other PGP clients
Recent updates to Proton Mail include redesigned user interfaces with customizable layouts and themes. The company has also focused on making its services more user-friendly while maintaining high security standards.
Proton's culture emphasizes integrity, honesty, transparency, and a commitment to privacy as a fundamental human right. The company values technical excellence and peer review as part of its scientific foundation. It fosters a collaborative environment where community input plays a significant role in shaping product development.
Proton's user base includes journalists, activists, government employees, cybersecurity experts, and privacy-conscious individuals worldwide. The company actively engages with its community through forums, surveys, and feedback channels to guide product development. It also supports a global localization community to make its services accessible in multiple languages.
