Element is the flagship client for the Matrix protocol, bringing decentralized, end-to-end encrypted messaging to individuals, teams, and entire governments. The company was founded in 2017 by Matthew Hodgson and Amandine Le Pape, who also created the Matrix open standard for decentralized communication.
Matrix is to messaging what email is to electronic mail — an open protocol that lets different providers communicate with each other. Element builds on this foundation to offer a Slack-like experience with rooms, threads, voice/video calls, and file sharing, but with the added benefit that no single entity controls the infrastructure.
The platform has gained serious traction in the public sector. France’s government built its official messaging system (Tchap) on Matrix. Germany’s Bundeswehr (armed forces) deployed Element for secure communication across 500,000 users. NATO has evaluated Matrix for defense communication. The appeal is obvious: governments get full control over their data and infrastructure.
Element has raised over $60 million in funding and offers both a free self-hosted option and Element Cloud for organizations that want a managed service. The company also developed Element Server Suite (ESS), a hardened, commercially supported Matrix deployment for enterprises.
The Matrix ecosystem extends beyond Element. Bridges allow Matrix users to communicate with people on Slack, Discord, Telegram, WhatsApp, and other platforms — messages flow between systems seamlessly. This interoperability is a key differentiator. The EU’s Digital Markets Act, which requires large messaging platforms to be interoperable, could make Matrix’s bridging approach increasingly relevant.
Element’s challenges include competing against the simplicity of centralized tools and the network effects of established platforms. But for organizations that care about data sovereignty and avoiding vendor lock-in, it’s become a compelling choice.
