Dashlane (company)

Dashlane (company)
Name	Dashlane
Type	Private
Industry	Software
Founded	2009
Founders	Emmanuel Schalit, Bernard Liautaud, Alexander Abrami
Headquarters	New York City, United States; Paris, France
Products	Password manager, digital wallet, identity management

Dashlane (company) Dashlane is a software company that develops password management and digital identity products for consumers and enterprises. Founded in 2009, it operates in the cybersecurity and identity management sector and competes with other LastPass and 1Password (software). The company combines credential storage, autofill, and secure sharing while integrating with platforms and standards like OAuth, FIDO Alliance, and WebAuthn.

History

Dashlane was founded in 2009 by Emmanuel Schalit, Bernard Liautaud, and Alexander Abrami, emerging from the European startup ecosystem around Paris and later establishing corporate headquarters in New York City. Early growth paralleled developments in cloud computing, mobile computing, and the rise of iOS and Android app ecosystems. The company released initial consumer products during the era of expanding password managers alongside competitors such as RoboForm and Keeper Security. Milestones include expansion into enterprise services during the 2010s, participation in technology conferences like TechCrunch Disrupt and Web Summit, and strategic hiring from firms including Google and Microsoft. Key leadership moves involved collaborations with venture firms and executives who previously worked at Salesforce and SAP SE. Over time Dashlane adapted to regulatory landscapes influenced by instruments like the General Data Protection Regulation and trends driven by major breaches such as the Yahoo data breaches and the Equifax breach.

Products and services

Dashlane develops a cross-platform password manager, a secure digital wallet, single sign-on (SSO) integrations, and business-oriented identity management tools. Consumer offerings include mobile apps for iOS and Android and desktop extensions for browsers including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari. Business products provide administrative controls, provisioning integrations with Okta, Azure Active Directory, and OneLogin, and features for compliance with standards like SOC 2 and ISO/IEC 27001. The company offers password health reporting, dark web monitoring interfaces that reference incidents such as the LinkedIn data breach and Adobe breach, and secure password sharing similar to enterprise suites from Cisco and IBM. Dashlane’s marketplace positioning overlapped with offerings from Bitwarden, NordPass, and identity platforms like Ping Identity.

Technology and security

Dashlane’s architecture emphasizes client-side encryption, zero-knowledge protocols, and cryptographic primitives such as AES and PBKDF2 while supporting modern authentication standards promoted by the FIDO Alliance and W3C. The product integrates with browser APIs and native app frameworks from Apple Inc. and Google LLC, using secure enclave technologies where available. Security audits and penetration testing have been conducted by third parties with methodologies referenced in industry practice from organizations like OWASP and NIST. Dashlane addresses threats typified by campaigns investigated by Mandiant and Kaspersky, and participates in vulnerability disclosure programs aligned with policies advocated by HackerOne and Bugcrowd. The company’s approach parallels cryptographic discussions found in literature from Bruce Schneier and standards bodies like IETF.

Business model and partnerships

Dashlane operates a freemium model, offering free consumer tiers and subscription plans for premium features, alongside enterprise licensing for organizations. Partnerships include integrations with identity providers such as Okta and cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services. Distribution channels include app stores run by Apple App Store and Google Play, enterprise sales teams, and reseller agreements with managed service providers often associated with Deloitte and Accenture. The company has collaborated with security vendors and browser makers, aligning product roadmaps with initiatives from Mozilla Foundation and corporate programs at Google. Strategic alliances with payment networks and fintech firms reflect intersections with companies like Visa and Mastercard when supporting digital wallet capabilities.

Funding and ownership

Dashlane raised venture capital through multiple rounds with investors including firms comparable to Sequoia Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, and growth investors that invest in technology platforms. Leadership financing events occurred amid a wider funding environment shaped by entities like Andreessen Horowitz and Benchmark. Ownership mixes founders, venture firms, and employees with equity grants similar to compensation structures used at Uber Technologies and Airbnb. The company’s valuation history and private funding rounds took place in funding climates influenced by market events such as the 2010s tech boom and subsequent corrections affecting startups in Silicon Valley and Paris.

Reception and controversies

Dashlane has been reviewed by technology press including outlets like Wired, The Verge, and TechCrunch, with coverage discussing usability, security features, and performance relative to competitors like LastPass and 1Password (software). Controversy around password managers more broadly—prompted by incidents involving LastPass security breach and scholarly critiques published in venues like ACM and IEEE—has influenced customer trust dynamics. Debates among security researchers in forums associated with DEF CON and Black Hat (conference) have addressed trade-offs in password storage and autofill behaviors relevant to Dashlane’s feature set. Consumer advocacy groups such as Electronic Frontier Foundation and regulatory scrutiny linked to data protection frameworks like the General Data Protection Regulation have shaped public discussion about privacy and corporate responsibility.

Category:Software companies