A decade ago, Zivver set out to shield sensitive data from human error and cyber threats. Now protecting 10,000 organisations worldwide, this Dutch FinTech is redefining secure communication.
As part of the prestigious DataTech50 list, FinTech Global’s Harry Slade meets company CIO Rick Goud and CEO Wouter Klinkhamer to explore the vision behind their rise.
Zivver’s journey began with a moment of clarity in Amsterdam’s healthcare sector, where Rick Goud saw sensitive patient data exposed through careless emails and outdated tools.
“Zivver was born from my own experience in healthcare,” Goud recalls. “I saw firsthand how sensitive data was being exposed due to the use of insecure tools and avoidable human mistakes like misaddressed emails. The core problem we wanted to solve was how to empower people to communicate securely without adding friction or slowing them down.”
This insight sparked a mission to build a platform that protects information in transit while making security feel effortless, a goal that has driven Zivver to safeguard over a million email accounts and prevent eight million data leaks.
Scaling the vision
Ten years later, the firm’s growth reflects its ability to adapt to a rapidly shifting landscape.
Wouter Klinkhamer, the company’s CEO, explains how their focus has evolved. “From the very start, our mission has been to simplify email security and make it something organisations of all sizes can adopt easily,” he says.
“Over the past decade we have grown well beyond our Amsterdam roots, now supporting over 10,000 organisations worldwide across sectors like healthcare, government, legal, and finance.”
Zivver has expanded its platform to tackle risks from both incoming and outgoing communications, incorporating machine learning to prevent data loss and adding practical features like eSignatures.
This approach ensures organisations can strengthen security without sacrificing efficiency, a balance that has resonated across industries.
Key achievements mark Zivver’s ascent. Since its 2015 launch, the company has secured over $30m in funding, enabling expansion into Europe and the US.
It now protects over a million email accounts and maintains a customer renewal rate above 95%, all while continuing to develop its offering further, as Klinkhamer explains.=
“One of the most exciting steps has been broadening our offering to include inbound Email Threat Protection,” he says, “positioning Zivver as a comprehensive solution for secure communications on both sides.”
These milestones reflect a company that doesn’t just respond to challenges but anticipates them, building trust with clients in sectors where data breaches can shatter reputations.
Outsmarting evolving threats
Human error remains a persistent vulnerability, implicated in over 80% of data breaches. Goud describes how Zivver’s machine learning platform addresses this challenge with precision.
“The platform uses smart, real-time prompts to catch mistakes before they happen, for example, alerting someone if they’re about to send sensitive data to the wrong contact or attach the wrong file,” he says. “We’re not just reacting after the fact; we’re working to prevent issues in the first place.”
The system learns over time, offering increasingly tailored guidance without disrupting workflows. This focus on prevention sets Zivver apart, turning potential errors into moments of awareness for users.
Cyber threats have grown more sophisticated, with AI-driven phishing attacks posing a particular danger. Goud references Zivver’s 2025 trends report, which warns of phishing schemes that use automation and mimicry to evade traditional filters.
“These attacks use automation and advanced mimicry to evade traditional filters, making them much harder to detect,” he says.
Zivver counters these threats with its own AI, designed to anticipate and neutralise risks. “At Zivver, we take a proactive approach by using AI not just to identify threats but to anticipate and block them before they cause harm,” Goud explains.
The platform adapts to user behaviour, spotting sensitive data patterns and flagging suspicious emails instantly.
Organisations can customise what qualifies as high-risk, triggering automatic encryption, while users receive context-sensitive prompts to sharpen their decision-making. This dual approach builds resilience against phishing while fostering a culture of vigilance.
Navigating regulatory demands is another area where Zivver excels. With frameworks like GDPR, DORA, and NIS2 setting stringent standards, organisations need solutions that deliver compliance without complexity.
Goud explains, “Compliance is at the heart of how we design Zivver,” he says. “We make sure our platform meets the highest standards under regulations like GDPR, DORA, and NIS2, with protections such as zero-access encryption, robust authentication, and detailed audit trails.”
Integration with tools like Outlook, Microsoft 365, and Gmail ensures that compliance feels intuitive, allowing users to follow best practices without rethinking their routines. This seamless design reflects Zivver’s commitment to empowering organisations while meeting legal obligations.
Building a resilient future
Looking ahead, Zivver faces a landscape of escalating challenges, from AI-powered attacks to growing data volumes and tighter regulations.
Klinkhamer is undaunted, stating, “The challenges are only growing, with AI-powered attacks, stricter regulations, and ever-larger amounts of data to manage.”
“At Zivver we see it as our job to help organisations stay ahead of these pressures.” The company plans to enhance its platform with smarter technologies and user-focused designs, ensuring that security and productivity go hand in hand.
“Our goal for the coming decade is clear: to remain a trusted partner in secure communications, helping organisations balance security, compliance, and business performance,” Klinkhamer adds.
This forward-thinking ethos positions Zivver as a leader in a field where staying still is not an option.
Zivver’s journey is a story of clarity and adaptability, rooted in Goud’s original vision. “Our mission was clear: protect sensitive information in transit and reduce human error, all while integrating security smoothly into everyday workflows,” he says.
That pursuit has propelled Zivver from a Dutch startup to a global force, trusted by 10,000 organisations to secure their communications.
Its platform combines the precision of machine learning with a deep understanding of human behaviour, catching errors and neutralising threats before they escalate.
For clients across healthcare, finance, and the government, Zivver has become a trusted partner, in an era where data is both currency and a liability.
The company’s impact extends far beyond numbers too. By preventing eight million data leaks, the firm has protected countless relationships and reputations. Its ability to anticipate threats, from phishing to regulatory shifts, reflects a rare blend of technical prowess and practical insight.
As Klinkhamer and Goud steer Zivver into its next decade, they champion a vision that emboldens organisations to communicate with unwavering assurance, seamlessly weaving security into the fabric of daily work.
Though the digital realm bristles with unseen threats and treacherous pitfalls, Zivver resists, demonstrating that robust protection can coexist with intuitive ease.
For the millions of users it safeguards, this commitment delivers an enduring promise of a world where trust triumphs over risk.
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