Tell us about Session. Session is a messaging app that protects user privacy by eliminating metadata exposure. It offers fully anonymous sign-up, with no phone number or email required, and uses decentralisation and onion routing to shield users from surveillance. Session Session is a user-friendly alternative to centralised messaging apps that remain vulnerable to tracking, third party data collection, and censorship. https://hackernoon.com/startups/europe/europe-zug-switzerland?embedable=true https://hackernoon.com/startups/europe/europe-zug-switzerland?embedable=true Tell us how your startup is changing the world. Session was built for anyone who wants to communicate freely without having to give up their privacy. Your metadata including who you talk to, when, and where, is as valuable as the content of your messages. Most messaging apps track this by default. Session doesn’t. Session Session doesn’t ask for a phone number or log your IP address. The app also doesn’t store contact graphs. That means there’s no obvious trail connecting you to your conversations. In a world where metadata is a commodity for advertisers, censorship is growing and governments demand backdoors in messaging apps, this kind of protection can make a real difference. What really sets Session apart is its infrastructure. Messages don’t go through a central server; they’re routed through a global network of independent nodes. This makes Session hard to shut down, and control. It’s a system designed to resist political, legal, or commercial pressure. You deserve a space to speak without fear, no matter if you’re a journalist protecting your sources, a citizen sharing sensitive opinions online, or simply someone who values control over your own data. Session gives people that space, even in the most difficult circumstances. What sets you apart from the competition? Many messaging apps advertise end-to-end encryption, but still collect metadata or rely on centralised infrastructure. Session’s approach is fundamentally different, as it’s built to minimise trust across the entire stack. It’s fully decentralised, uses onion routing, and doesn’t require a phone number or email to get started. Session doesn’t track you, serve you ads, or retain any user-identifying data. The network is powered by a global community, anyone can run a node and contribute. It’s open source, transparent, and belongs to everyone. It’s a public tool for private communication. Session Session is end-to-end encrypted by default, doesn’t collect metadata, and is stewarded by a Swiss foundation that does not collect profits. Session has also undergone independent, external audits that attest to its security. The model isn’t built around monetisation, it’s built around protecting the fundamental right to privacy. What does it mean for you to win this title? It means so much to see all the support and votes from the community. The privacy space is full of people doing critical work that often goes unrecognised. This kind of visibility is a reminder, to the contributors building Session, that privacy matters, and that what we are building together truly has an impact. What do you love about your team, and why are you the ones to set out for this mission? The beautiful thing about Session is that it’s a project that anyone can be part of. There are node operators across the world routing messages, open-source contributors collaborating on GitHub, and community members spreading the word, creating guides, doing translations and offering support. Session belongs to everyone who believes in the right to private communication. What unites the Session ecosystem is a shared mindset that privacy isn’t a luxury, it’s a right worth defending. Everyone involved has made a conscious choice to contribute to something that puts users first. Looking back, what milestone was the biggest turning point for your startup? The launch of the Session Token, SESH, this May marked a major turning point for Session. SESH creates the incentive layer for the node runners that keep the network running securely, rewarding community members for storing and routing messages. It also opens the door to new user-facing features like Session Pro and the Session Name Service, which introduces unique, tradeable usernames. Session Token This upgrade ensures that Session remains a strong, secure, and decentralised alternative to centralised messaging platforms. How do you envision your industry evolving in the coming years, and how will your startup stay ahead? The public is waking up to how much data they’ve given away. Session will remain accessible, stable, and censorship-resistant as privacy risks evolve rapidly, so people still have a way to speak freely, even in difficult environments. What goals are you looking forward to accomplishing in 2025? Session Pro Beta is planned to launch in early Q4, focusing on convenience features that help users better organize messages, exceed free user limits, and customise their appearance within the app. Users will be able to purchase Pro access through traditional in-app purchases initially, with fiat payments converted to SESH on the backend to pay Session Network fees. These SESH tokens are burned and re-minted into the Staking Reward Pool, providing additional rewards for node operators. Session Pro Beta Including Pro features we will have: Including Pro features we will have: Higher Character Limits for Messages More Pinned Conversations Higher Group Member Limits Exclusive Access to Animated Profile Pictures. Pro users can set GIF or animated WebP images as their profile pictures, adding personality and flair to their Session presence. Pro Badges Pro Verification In-App Purchases and Pro Membership Management And much more! Higher Character Limits for Messages Higher Character Limits for Messages More Pinned Conversations More Pinned Conversations Higher Group Member Limits Higher Group Member Limits Exclusive Access to Animated Profile Pictures. Pro users can set GIF or animated WebP images as their profile pictures, adding personality and flair to their Session presence. Exclusive Access to Animated Profile Pictures. Pro users can set GIF or animated WebP images as their profile pictures, adding personality and flair to their Session presence. Pro Badges Pro Badges Pro Verification Pro Verification In-App Purchases and Pro Membership Management And much more! In-App Purchases and Pro Membership Management And much more! About HackerNoon’s Startups of The Year Startups of The Year 2024 is HackerNoon’s flagship community-driven event celebrating startups, technology, and the spirit of innovation. Currently in its third iteration, the prestigious Internet award recognizes and celebrates tech startups of all shapes and sizes. This year, over 150,000 entities across 4200+ cities, 6 continents, and 100+ industries will participate in a bid to be crowned the best startup of the year! Millions of votes have been cast over the past few years, and many stories have been written about these daring and rising startups. The winners will get a free interview on HackerNoon and an Evergreen Tech Company Newspage.Visit our FAQ page to learn more. Download our design assets here.Check out the Startups of the Year Merch Shop here.HackerNoon’s Startups of The Year is a branding opportunity unlike any other. Whether your goal is brand awareness or lead generation, HackerNoon has curated startup-friendly packages to solve your marketing challenges. Meet our sponsors: Wellfound:. Join the #1 global, startup-focused community. At Wellfound, we're not just a job board—we're the place where top startup talent and the world's most exciting companies connect to build the future. Notion: Notion is trusted and loved by thousands of startups as their connected workspace—from building product roadmaps to tracking fundraising. Try Notion with unlimited AI, FREE for up to 6 months, to build and scale your company with one powerful tool. Get your offer now! Hubspot: If you’re looking for a smart CRM platform that meets the needs of small businesses, look no further than HubSpot. Seamlessly connect your data, teams and customers in one easy-to-use scalable platform that grows with your business. Get started for free.Bright Data: Startups that leverage public web data can make faster, data-driven decisions, giving them a competitive edge. With Bright Data’s scalable web data collection, businesses can grow from a small operation to an enterprise by harnessing insights at every stage. Algolia: Algolia NeuralSearch is the world's only AI end-to-end Search and Discovery Platform combining powerful keyword and natural language processing in a single API. About HackerNoon’s Startups of The Year Startups of The Year 2024 is HackerNoon’s flagship community-driven event celebrating startups, technology, and the spirit of innovation. Currently in its third iteration, the prestigious Internet award recognizes and celebrates tech startups of all shapes and sizes. This year, over 150,000 entities across 4200+ cities, 6 continents, and 100+ industries will participate in a bid to be crowned the best startup of the year! Millions of votes have been cast over the past few years, and many stories have been written about these daring and rising startups. Startups of The Year 2024 many stories The winners will get a free interview on HackerNoon and an Evergreen Tech Company Newspage. free interview Evergreen Tech Company Newspage Visit our FAQ page to learn more. FAQ Download our design assets here. here Check out the Startups of the Year Merch Shop here. here HackerNoon’s Startups of The Year is a branding opportunity unlike any other. Whether your goal is brand awareness or lead generation, HackerNoon has curated startup-friendly packages to solve your marketing challenges. startup-friendly packages Meet our sponsors: Meet our sponsors: Wellfound:. Join the #1 global, startup-focused community. At Wellfound, we're not just a job board—we're the place where top startup talent and the world's most exciting companies connect to build the future. Wellfound: Join the #1 global, startup-focused community Notion: Notion is trusted and loved by thousands of startups as their connected workspace—from building product roadmaps to tracking fundraising. Try Notion with unlimited AI, FREE for up to 6 months, to build and scale your company with one powerful tool. Get your offer now! Notion: Try Notion with unlimited AI, FREE for up to 6 months Get your offer now ! Hubspot: If you’re looking for a smart CRM platform that meets the needs of small businesses, look no further than HubSpot. Seamlessly connect your data, teams and customers in one easy-to-use scalable platform that grows with your business. Get started for free. Hubspot: Get started for free Bright Data: Startups that leverage public web data can make faster, data-driven decisions, giving them a competitive edge. With Bright Data’s scalable web data collection, businesses can grow from a small operation to an enterprise by harnessing insights at every stage. Bright Data: Bright Data’s scalable web data collection Algolia: Algolia NeuralSearch is the world's only AI end-to-end Search and Discovery Platform combining powerful keyword and natural language processing in a single API. Algolia: AI end-to-end Search and Discovery Platform
