Andy Yen built Proton after realising that the business model of the internet was heading in a direction that could undermine democracy, privacy and long-term freedom.
In this episode he talks about how growing up Taiwanese next to China shaped his worldview, why Europe has become a digital colony, and what it takes to build products that stay independent when your competitors own the operating systems and set the rules.
We also break down Proton’s rare hybrid structure, why the company moved under a Swiss non-profit foundation, and what tech sovereignty means for founders and operators who are building in Europe today.
Recorded during Open-i in Zurich.
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