Pavel Durov is one of tech’s most compelling figures, known for championing privacy and freedom in a time when both feel increasingly fragile. As the founder of Telegram, he’s created a messaging app that millions rely on to communicate securely. But Durov’s story goes far beyond just building an app; it’s really about his unwavering stand against government surveillance and tech industry norms.
Durov’s journey to Telegram started back in Russia, where he and his brother Nikolai developed VKontakte (VK), which quickly became Russia’s largest social network. Pavel, with his bold vision, was determined to keep VK free from government interference, committed to protecting users’ privacy. This stance didn’t go over well with authorities, who pressured him to share user data and restrict certain content. Refusing to compromise, Pavel faced serious resistance and eventually lost control of VK, leaving Russia in 2014.
That same year, Pavel and Nikolai launched Telegram, designed with a central mission: secure, private communication for everyone. The app’s standout feature is its end-to-end encryption, which ensures that no one—not even Telegram itself—can access users’ private messages. This level of privacy has made Telegram especially popular in countries where government surveillance is high. But Pavel didn’t stop there; he went a step further by making Telegram’s code open-source, allowing anyone to review it, adding an unusual level of transparency.
Durov’s approach to entrepreneurship breaks the typical mold. While many tech companies monetize user data, Pavel has chosen a path that protects it. For him, success isn’t only about profit—it’s about offering people a secure way to communicate without compromise. Despite facing setbacks and opposition, he’s stayed true to his mission. Durov’s story shows that some of the most impactful businesses are born from a strong sense of purpose. Telegram’s growth reflects that when you build something people genuinely need, especially something rooted in meaningful values, it resonates—and that resonance can lead to remarkable success.
Ben Pasternak looked like an ordinary teen, but behind the scenes, he was creating viral apps in his bedroom and would eventually start a multimillion-dollar tech company. Many teenagers play video games and enjoy the apps on their phone, but Ben did not just enjoy using technology, he wanted to know how it was created and why people enjoyed it. At only age 15, he designed his first gaming app called Impossible Rush. After only a few weeks of its release, it had gained over a million downloads. People with more power started to become interested in Ben’s work. Ben decided to drop out of high school and move to New York City after receiving numerous offers from tech investors including Greylock Partners and Tumblr’s former president, John Maloney. In 2016, Ben founded Flogg, an online marketplace for young adults to buy and sell products and network with others. Flogg grabbed even more people’s attention, and Ben received more funding as a result. The app, Sup, became Ben’s next tech business endeavor. This social networking app allowed friends online to meet in real life. The focus, ironically, was to encourage face-to-face conversations rather than virtual connections. A few years later in 2019, Ben focused on combining the food industry with the tech industry and co-founded NUGGS. NUGGS was a food technology company that made plant-based nuggets. They have since rebranded NUGGS and renamed it Simulate. They expanded to make a variety of foods with meat alternatives.
