Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons Podcast Ente: Private by Design
Sep 29, 2025
Discover the innovative world of Ente Photos, a private app designed with user privacy at its core. Hear from founder Vishnu about his mission to challenge the ad-tech giants and provide a sustainable, non-surveillance alternative. Learn about end-to-end encryption and how Ente safeguards your data while enabling seamless integration on different platforms. Delve into the complexities of migrating from mainstream photo services and the challenges of maintaining privacy. Plus, get a sneak peek at upcoming features aimed at enhancing your secure photo experience!
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From Personal Frustration To Building Ente
- Vishnu built Ente after personal frustration with Google and Apple locking and mining photo data.
- He originally planned a home hardware box, then pivoted to an open-source, end-to-end encrypted SaaS.
Business Model Shapes Privacy
- Ente avoids VC-driven surveillance capitalism by design and prefers a long-term, revenue-first model.
- Open source and no early VC funding increase trust and make for greater longevity.
Require True End-To-End Encryption
- Use true end-to-end encryption to ensure only users hold decryption keys.
- Store only encrypted blobs on servers so providers cannot read photos or extracted metadata.