Startmail Report
Executive Summary
StartMail, founded by Robert E.G. Beens and David Bodnick in 2013, is an independent privacy-focused email service provider based in the Netherlands. Owned and operated independently of any commercial third parties or governments, the company is headquartered at Security Delta (HSD), a Dutch innovation center, with servers also located in the Netherlands to ensure compliance with the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It offers a single core product—secure email service—with features like one-click encryption, unlimited disposable email addresses, custom domain support, group subscriptions, and a migration tool for importing from Big Tech providers like Gmail and Outlook, its secure service gained prominence in 2016 during a global live interview with Edward Snowden hosted by Startpage.
Companies & Services Overview
- Startmail
- Founder: Robert E.G. Beens and David Bodnick
- Established: 2013
- Employees: 13
- Annual Revenue: $10.5 million (2024)
- StartMail is owned and operated independently by its founders, a privacy-focused email service provider committed to delivering secure, user-controlled communication solutions globally.
- Established in 2013 by Robert E.G. Beens and David Bodnick, the company operates from the Netherlands, with its headquarters at Security Delta (HSD) and servers strategically located to comply with GDPR standards.
- StartMail is owned and operated independently by its founders, a privacy-focused email service provider committed to delivering secure, user-controlled communication solutions globally.
Audience
- Global (primarily EU, North America, and Asia; Rank: 12 for Secure Email Services worldwide)
- Hundreds of thousands of users, including over 10,000 paying subscribers.
- (Webmail, IMAP/SMTP clients like Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Outlook)
- Twitter --- [6k]
- Facebook --- [2.4k]
- Instagram --- [414]
- YouTube --- [508]
- Mastadon --- [268k]
- LinkedIn --- [12]
Notables
- StartMail is headquartered in the Netherlands, operating under EU laws and regulations.
- The Netherlands’ implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) emphasizes strong user privacy protections and transparency.
- Startmail is owned by Dutch company Surfboard Holding BV.
- The Netherlands’ implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) emphasizes strong user privacy protections and transparency.
- Robert E.G. Beens is also a commercial airlines pilot with Netherlands-based airline KLM.
- Roadmap Timeline
- PGP Added (2015)
- Aliases Added (2016)
- UI/UX upgraded + mobile friendly (2017)
- 2FA Added (2018)
- Servers Upgraded & Spam Filtering (2019)
- Email enhanced features (2020)
- API's (2022)
- Expanded Alias (2023)
- Strengthened Encryption & Custom Filters (2024)
- Onboard & AI driven alerts (2025)
- Logo Changes
- StartMail does not scan or store user emails for advertising purposes, unlike many mainstream email providers. It employs a zero-knowledge architecture, ensuring even StartMail cannot access user data.
- Operating in the Netherlands places StartMail outside the jurisdiction of the U.S. and other Five Eyes countries, reducing exposure to mass surveillance programs.
- StartMail regularly publishes transparency reports detailing government data requests (if any) and maintains an active blog to educate users on privacy best practices.
- StartMail lacks native mobile apps (relying on browser or IMAP setups).
- StartMail excels in alias flexibility over Proton Mail (which requires manual deletion for burners).
Conclusion
Robert E.G. Beens and David Bodnick’s leadership highlights StartMail’s privacy-first mission. Operating independently of the Netherlands, StartMail delivers a secure email service with robust features like one-click encryption and unlimited disposable aliases, positioning it as a strong alternative to mainstream providers. However, a closer look reveals some limitations that temper its privacy-centric claims. The absence of native mobile apps, relying instead on browser or IMAP setups, may hinder accessibility for some users. Additionally, while StartMail emphasizes zero-knowledge architecture and GDPR compliance, the lack of detailed public information about its encryption protocols could raise questions about the depth of its security measures. Furthermore, its affiliation with Surfboard Holding BV and the broader Startpage ecosystem might complicate its narrative as a fully independent privacy innovator, potentially challenging its position in the competitive secure email market.
Scope
Organization
Score
No concerns or issues.
Created
Sept. 24, 2025, 2:57 p.m.
Updated
Sept. 25, 2025, 7:18 p.m.
Availability
Public