Hello.app
hello.app was a peer-to-peer, decentralized storage platform based in Barcelona. Founded in 2022 by Álvaro Pintado and Alexander Baikalov at age 17, it was among the first to offer distributed storage on mobile devices, allowing users to monetize unused space via blockchain.
It aimed to replace centralized server infrastructure by using existing personal devices as nodes in a fragmented, distributed and encrypted network. In this model, phones, tablets, and laptops would collectively function as storage servers, contributing to a more resilient, worldwide system of data storage with no single point of control.
History
Conceived in 2021 when Pintado, 17, built the beta, hello.app launched publicly in January 2022. It gained 100,000 users across 200+ countries within three months and neared 200,000 active users by mid-2024.In December 2023, El Confidencial reported an initial €300,000 raise and Pintado’s goal to rival Google and Amazon.
In September 2024, hello.app closed an €800,000 Series B at a €16 million valuation.