Safer Internet Day: How Entrepreneurs Are Building More Secure Digital Future

This year on February 11th, the world will observe Safer Internet Day, sparking  global conversations about creating a better, safer online world. While the day often focuses on individual cyber hygiene and child protection, it’s also a catalyst for entrepreneurship and innovation. In an era where cybercrime costs are projected to reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025 (Cybersecurity Ventures, 2022), the digital safety gap isn’t just a societal concern—it’s a goldmine for visionary entrepreneurs. From privacy-first startups to AI-driven fraud detection, innovators are turning internet safety challenges into scalable solutions. Here’s how they’re rewriting the rules of the digital economy.

The internet’s vulnerabilities are no secret: data breaches, identity theft, and misinformation plague users worldwide. But where there’s risk, there’s opportunity. Entrepreneurs are stepping into this void, recognizing that trust is the internet’s most scarce—and valuable—commodity.

Take DuckDuckGo, the privacy-focused search engine that’s grown to 100 million daily queries by rejecting tracking ads or Signal, the encrypted messaging app that became a household name during WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy backlash, surging to 40 million users virtually overnight. These companies prove that ethical tech isn’t just noble—it’s profitable.

The numbers back this up:

· The global cybersecurity market will hit $424 billion by 2030, growing at 13% annually.

· 78% of consumers say they’ll abandon a brand after a data breach.

Entrepreneurs are responding with tools that bake safety into digital experiences. For example, Zscaler, a cloud security startup, reached a $25 billion valuation by helping companies securely embrace remote work—a need amplified by the pandemic.

Innovation Spotlight: Startups Rewiring Internet Safety

1. AI Guardians

Startups like Darktrace use machine learning to detect cyber threats in real time, mimicking the human immune system. Their AI studies normal network behavior, flagging anomalies before breaches occur. In 2023, Darktrace reported thwarting ransomware attacks for 65% of its clients.

2. Blockchain for Trust

Estonia’s Guardtime replaced traditional databases with blockchain to secure 1 million health records—a model now used by NATO and the EU. Blockchain’s tamper-proof nature is being harnessed to verify everything from vaccine passports to election results.

3. Safety-as-a-Service

Platforms like Aura bundle VPNs, password managers, and parental controls into one subscription, democratizing security for non-tech users. Aura’s valuation doubled to $2.5 billion in 2022 by targeting families.

Building safer tech isn’t without friction. Entrepreneurs face a tightrope walk between privacy and convenience. For instance, Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature, which lets users block data collection, was hailed as a privacy win but cost Meta an estimated $10 billion in ad revenue. Startups must balance profit with principles—a tension that’s birthed frameworks like “Privacy by Design.”

There’s also the challenge of inclusion. While 95% of cybersecurity startups are based in North America and Europe, regions like Africa and Southeast Asia face disproportionate risks. Kenyan entrepreneur Tricia Martinez tackled this gap with Wala, a blockchain platform securing microloans for unbanked women—proving safety innovation can’t be a luxury.

Safer Internet Day reminds us that no single company can fix the web’s flaws. Forward-thinking founders are partnering with unlikely allies:

· Google’s $10 billion cybersecurity pledge includes grants for startups tackling zero-day exploits .

· Nonprofits like CyberPeace Institute connect ethical hackers with NGOs to protect vulnerable communities.

As UN Secretary-General António Guterres warns, “Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility—it’s the backbone of our digital future”. Entrepreneurs who embrace this ethos aren’t just chasing profits; they’re architecting a web where safety and innovation coexist.

On this Safer Internet Day, let’s celebrate the entrepreneurs proving that a secure internet isn’t a constraint—it’s the ultimate enabler of progress. After all, the next groundbreaking idea won’t flourish in a digital wild west. It’ll thrive in an ecosystem where trust is the default. 

By Prof. Swapnil Sahoo, Assistant Professor, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Strategy, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon