Bridgefy Launches Encrypted Messaging for Protests & Disasters

The Bridgefy messaging application—distinguished by its use of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology—gained prominence as a vital communication tool for demonstrators globally, enabling continued connectivity even when governments imposed internet restrictions or outages. Recently, advocates in Nigeria and Thailand have encouraged the app’s adoption, mirroring the experience of Hong Kong protestors last year who utilized Bridgefy in response to governmental limitations on phone services and data access. The company reports achieving 2 million downloads in the past year. Following the recent earthquake impacting Turkey and Greece, the app has experienced a surge in popularity within those areas, trending on app stores.

Bridgefy is releasing a significant update, introducing a key feature for activists: end-to-end encryption for messages. This enhancement will enable secure transmission and reception of messages in the absence of data connectivity, employing the same encryption standard utilized by Signal, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger.

Founded in 2014 (and showcased at TechCrunch Disrupt in 2017), Bridgefy originated from the founders’ recognition of communication challenges during the earthquakes in Mexico City. Initially developed as a mobile application, a Software Development Kit (SDK) was subsequently added, allowing other applications to function without internet access. The Bridgefy SDK is now offered to businesses through an annual subscription based on user numbers and is currently integrated into over 40 companies spanning sectors like payments, messaging, gaming, social media, dating, and disaster relief. From a technical standpoint, its competitors include GoTenna and Firechat, though Bridgefy has established a stronger reputation within the activist community.

The company is currently seeking seed funding and has already secured $800,000 USD in investment, with participation from Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, Alchemist Accelerator, and GAN Ventures.