About Element
Freedom to communicate on your own terms.
Element is a digitally sovereign, secure and interoperable communications platform. Built on the Matrix open standard, it gives users the independence to control and manage their communications.
Element gives organisations the control they would expect from corporate email, but across an end-to-end encrypted platform that includes mobile messaging, desktop collaboration, voice and video.
We invite you to
Be in your element.
Element improves trust, productivity and security; both internally and across multiple organisations.
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Element is based on the
Matrix open standard
for real time communications, which helps ensure native interoperability with other Matrix-based systems.
Element Server Suite Pro
is a professionalised Matrix-based server that organisations can use to host any Matrix-based solution.
International presence.
To support our international presence and compliance, Element operates through multiple regional legal entities: Element Creations Limited in the UK (HQ), Element Software GmbH in Germany , Element Software SARL in France and Element Software Inc in the United States . This structure allows us to directly supply national governments using a local entity and staff, further supporting digital sovereignty.
With offices across Europe and North America, we serve a diverse global market, ensuring trusted, real-time collaboration without vendor lock-in or surveillance.
Element is for everyone, by everyone.
We want Element to be for everyone, and we enable everyone to contribute through open source . When it comes to our employees, we work hard to ensure that our culture welcomes and respects all individuals, and we strive to recruit accordingly . By embracing diversity we create a better, stronger product for our customers, the community, and all those who recognise the importance of privacy-centric communications.
Country offices.
France
Germany
United Kingdom
United States
Relationship to Matrix.
Element is the leading provider of solutions for Matrix, the open standard for secure, decentralised communication.
While Matrix is governed by the independent, non-profit Matrix.org Foundation with its own managing director, Element remains a leading contributor and has contributed more than 90% of key server components and SDKs to the project. As the Foundation grows to be self-sustainable, Element continues to significantly support it financially and in kind.
History.
2014: Matrix is born
2015: Initial app launches
2016: Gaining traction
2017: A New Vector
2018: Matrix independence
New Vector has a small revenue stream from Matrix-based consulting and government contracts.
2019: Series A funding
Having worked in partnership with New Vector, the French government launches Tchap , its Matrix-based messenger.
2020: Element launch
BWI, in partnership with Element, launches BwMessenger , a Matrix-based messenger for the German Armed Forces .
Matrix enjoys rapid community growth across universities in the DACH region , and beyond.
2021: Matrix adoption
Gematik , the German healthcare agency, officially mandates Matrix as the basis of its communications standard; TI-Messenger.
As the world recovers from COVID, public sector organisations are increasingly uneasy with the prevalence of consumer messaging apps across government and Element sees a strong uptick in public sector business.
2022: Element Server Suite
Element creates Element Server Suite (ESS), a professionalised Matrix-based server distribution that organisations can use to host any Matrix-based solution. Forrester recognises Element as a âleaderâ in its Secure Communications report.
Swedenâs dSam project and eSam programme recommend Matrix-based communications for the Swedish public sector.
2023: Freerider challenges
Element pauses all non-core research and development, and hyper-focuses on serving the public sector, where European governmentsâ desire for digital sovereignty is increasingly urgent as the geopolitical climate intensifies. Element continues investing in building Element Server Suite for TI-Messenger .
2024: Government subscriptions grow
The Matrix.org Foundation runs elections to set-up its first Governing Board to increase its independence and better support the ecosystem. The first Matrix Conference , sponsored by Element, makes its debut in Berlin bringing together over 200 developers, customers and enthusiasts to share learnings and insights.
At the Matrix Conference, Element launches Element X , a complete rewrite of the flagship mobile client, built to out-perform the mainstream alternatives with a radically improved user interface.
2025: Momentum builds
Element releases major new products including Synapse Pro , and Helm-based versions of Element Server Suite; ESS Pro and ESS Community . A new frontend client built specifically for the workplace, Element Pro , also launches. Element announces its Build license for organisations that want to develop proprietary software on top of Element components.
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Government appetite for digitally sovereign and interoperable communications increases. Germanyâs TI-Messenger initiative goes live , and Element is invited to present at UN Open Source Week and participates in the Summit on Digital Sovereignty .
The Matrix Conference 2025 reveals governments in more than 25 countries are now using Matrix. The European Commission , NATO ACT , UNICC , Luxembourg , France , Germanyâs FITKO and BWI all present their Matrix-based implementations.
Matrix now sits at the heart of European governments, and Element offers the most advanced Matrix-based backend and frontend in the world.
Leadership team.
Matthew Hodgson
Co-founder, CEO/CTO
Matthew is co-founder of Element and CEO/CTO, responsible for the technical direction and vision of the company. Matthew is also the technical co-founder of Matrix and a Guardian of The Matrix.org Foundation, the open source project that publishes the Matrix open standard for secure, decentralised, real-time communication. He has a degree in Computer Science and Physics from the University of Cambridge.
Amandine Le Pape
Co-founder, COO
Amandine is co-founder of Element, COO and Managing Director of Element Software SARL in France. She deals with operations across the entire company. She is also co-founder and a Guardian of The Matrix.org Foundation, the open source project that publishes the Matrix open standard for secure, decentralised, real-time communication. Amandine is a founding member of the European Open Source Academy, where she leads the Business and Impact section. She has an engineering degree in Telecoms, Electronics and Computer Science from CPE Lyon and an EMBA from Rennes School of Business.
Dr Patrick Alberts
Chief Product Officer
Patrick is Chief Product Officer at Element, and Managing Director of Element Software GmbH in Germany. He leads product strategy and development, having previously driven innovation and growth at technology companies across Europe. He is passionate about open technology, digital sovereignty, and making an impact for millions of users. Patrick holds a PhD in Geophysics and Artificial Intelligence from Imperial College London, an MBA from INSEAD in France and an AMP degree from Harvard Business School.
Juho Lahdenpera
Chief Financial Officer
Juho is the Chief Financial Officer at Element, overseeing the companyâs financial strategy, planning, and operations. He brings extensive experience in financial leadership across high-growth technology and SaaS businesses, helping to drive sustainable global expansion as Element scales its operations for enterprises and governments worldwide. He is a member of the ICAEW and holds an MBA and business degree from Coventry University.
Neil Johnson
Chief Engineering Officer
Neil is Chief Engineering Officer at Element, leading engineering strategy and delivery. Passionate about scaling technology and people, he draws on experience from high-growth start-ups spanning Telecoms to Search. Neil holds an MEng in Electrical and Information Sciences from the University of Cambridge.
Tom Lant
VP of Customer Success
Tom is VP of Customer Success, delivering expert consulting and tailored services to large organisations deploying Element and the wider Matrix ecosystem. He is dedicated to advancing secure, decentralised, open-source communication by helping partners and customers unlock the full potential of Matrix within their communities and businesses. Tom holds an MEng in Software Engineering from the University of Southampton and brings over a decade of industry experience.
Steve Loynes
VP of Marketing
Steve is VP of Marketing at Element, where he drives brand strategy, product positioning and growth. Elementâs ground-breaking technology keeps Steve focused on market education, and building impactful marketing programs that combine business benefits and technological advantages. He brings extensive experience managing marketing and communications for leading technology firms across EMEA and worldwide. Steve is a graduate of University of the Arts London (UAL).
Backed by a fantastic portfolio of investors.
