Company: Murena
Interviewee: Rik Viergever, Operations Manager
Website: https://murena.com/

A Digital Ecosystem for Privacy and Sustainability

Not all smartphones are built to serve Big Tech, and Murena is proving it. Committed to privacy, sustainability, and open source, Murena has established itself as one of Europe’s most principled tech providers. However, Murena isn’t just building a phone; it’s building a vision of ethical digital infrastructure for individuals, businesses, and governments alike.

“At our core, we want to provide tools that contribute to a fairer and more sustainable world,” says Rik Viergever, Murena’s Operations Manager. From its flagship operating system, /e/OS, to its ethical cloud platform, Murena Workspace, the company aims to give users true digital autonomy—no data mining, no surveillance, no compromises.

“At our core, we want to provide tools that contribute to a fairer and more sustainable world”

A Radical Alternative to Google and Apple

Murena’s flagship mobile operating system, /e/OS, is based on Android but lacks Google services. It runs on a wide range of devices, including older ones, empowering users to extend the life of their smartphones while regaining control over their data. While Murena sells privacy-first phones directly, the company primarily views itself as having a mission: to develop software.

Beyond smartphones, Murena offers Murena Workspace, a cloud-based suite of collaboration tools designed as an alternative to Google Workspace and Apple iCloud. With features including calendar, file storage, and team collaboration tools, Murena Workspace allows individuals and organizations to work securely without compromising user data.

The operating system and cloud platform are fully open source, and Murena adheres to a zero data collection policy. “If we don’t collect it, we can’t sell it,” Viergever explains. “That’s exactly the point.” To prove this, all code is publicly auditable — any developer, researcher, or user can verify it themselves.

Software with a Sustainability Blueprint

Sustainability is not an afterthought—it’s built into every layer of Murena’s design. Their software supports older devices, which helps reduce e-waste and the energy footprint of manufacturing new phones. Murena’s cloud servers are powered entirely by hydropower, and they select the hardware they sell based on repairability and ethical sourcing, including partnerships with Fairphone and Teracube.

A standout example of innovation is Murena’s Advanced Privacy module. Integrated into /e/OS, it automatically blocks trackers and anonymizes web traffic. This prevents up to 200,000 tracking attempts per month, compared to typical Android devices. It’s an excellent example of ethical design that meets growing consumer demand.

Listening to the Users

Murena maintains close connections with its users through forums, GitLab, Telegram channels, and dedicated customer support. The company regularly conducts surveys and feedback initiatives, such as the Mobifree project, and uses the resulting insights to guide product development.

“We monitor active usage of our services, subscription rates, churn, and even our social media and newsletter followings,” says Viergever. “That helps us understand satisfaction and growth potential.”

While competing in a landscape dominated by Apple and Google is no small feat, Murena believes its transparency and principled stance are its biggest strengths. “We know that more and more people are willing to pay a bit more upfront for a product that won’t harvest their data.”

Scaling with Purpose

Murena is now entering a pivotal phase. “We’re transitioning from a startup to a scale-up,” Viergever explains. The company is preparing to cross the growth chasm, where early adopters give way to broader market adoption. To reach this stage, Murena is exploring private sector investment while remaining deeply protective of its ethical foundation.

Strategic partnerships are key to this next step, especially with smartphone manufacturers and refurbishers. Companies like Fairphone and Gigaset help bring Murena’s operating system (OS) to market-ready devices while also aligning with the company’s values regarding environmental impact and labor ethics.

Advice for the Ethical Tech Community

Viergever is realistic about what it takes to build a values-driven tech company: “Start with a purpose, but don’t forget the business side. A great idea won’t survive unless it’s sustainable. Always listen to what your users actually need.”

Murena is doing exactly that. By anchoring its mission in open source, privacy, and sustainable design, Murena is building a movement that invites individuals and institutions to reclaim control over their digital lives, not just a product.

“Start with a purpose, but don’t forget the business side. A great idea won’t survive unless it’s sustainable. Always listen to what your users actually need.”