Optery's Rapid Growth Highlights Soaring Demand for Data Privacy

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – April 01, 2026 – In a stark reflection of the escalating demand for personal data protection, San Francisco-based cybersecurity firm Optery has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the Pacific region. The company secured the No. 12 spot on the 2026 Inc. Regionals: Pacific list, propelled by an astonishing 763% revenue growth between 2022 and 2024. This achievement, which also saw the company ranked No. 2 in the Security category and No. 1 in the San Francisco metro area, underscores a pivotal shift in how both individuals and corporations are confronting the risks of online data exposure.

A Market Awakening to the Privacy Imperative

Optery’s meteoric rise is not an isolated success story but a powerful indicator of a booming market. The global data privacy software market, valued at over $20 billion in 2024, is projected by some analysts to surge to over $66 billion by 2035. This explosive growth is fueled by a confluence of factors: tightening regulations like Europe's GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), heightened consumer awareness of their digital footprint, and the relentless evolution of cyber threats. With the global cost of cybercrime anticipated to hit $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, the financial and reputational stakes have never been higher.

"The honorees on this year’s Inc. Regionals list achieved exceptional growth at a time when the odds were against them," said Bonny Ghosh, editorial director at Inc. "Amid inflation, supply chain disruptions, and ongoing economic uncertainty, they didn't just persevere – they innovated, adapted, and thrived."

Cybersecurity's New Battleground: The Data Broker Ecosystem

At the heart of this growing crisis is the opaque world of data brokers—companies that collect, aggregate, and sell vast quantities of personally identifiable information (PII). This data, often gathered without an individual's explicit consent from public records, social media, and online activity, creates a treasure trove for malicious actors. Information such as home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and names of relatives becomes the raw material for sophisticated cyberattacks.

This data is leveraged by attackers during the reconnaissance phase to craft highly convincing social engineering campaigns, including phishing, smishing (SMS phishing), and vishing (voice phishing). By personalizing their attacks with accurate PII, criminals can more easily manipulate victims into compromising corporate networks, revealing credentials, or falling prey to fraud. The threat extends beyond the digital realm. The public availability of this information facilitates doxing—the malicious online publication of private information—which can lead to real-world harassment, stalking, and physical harm, posing a significant risk to executives, public figures, and their families.

A Technological Approach to Digital Erasure

Optery's solution directly targets this vulnerability by automating the complex and tedious process of removing PII from hundreds of data broker websites. The company differentiates itself with patented search technology that recursively scours the web, often uncovering dozens more exposed profiles than competing services. Once a profile is located, the platform automates opt-out requests and continuously monitors for reappearing data, a common issue as brokers frequently republish information.

A key feature praised by industry analysts is the platform's commitment to transparency. PCMag’s Lead Analyst for Security highlighted this, stating, “Unlike any other product I’ve seen, Optery doesn’t just state that your data was found … Rather, the report presents you with a screenshot of your actual profile data on the site.” This screenshot-based proof provides users with tangible evidence of both their exposure and the successful removal of their data. The service's effectiveness has earned it PCMag's Editors' Choice award for five consecutive years (2022-2026) and a #1 ranking in a blind study by Consumer Reports. For businesses, the platform offers "Optery for Business," an enterprise-grade solution that helps protect employees and executives, reducing the corporate attack surface and mitigating risks associated with phishing and physical threats.

From Bay Area Startup to Regional Powerhouse

Founded in the San Francisco Bay Area, Optery's journey from a startup to a regional leader, backed by $6 million in seed funding, mirrors the industry's trajectory. Its inclusion in the Inc. Regionals list places it among an elite group of companies that added over 7,500 jobs and $2.5 billion to the Pacific region's economy. The company's rapid growth and innovative technology have not gone unnoticed. It has amassed a formidable collection of awards and was named by Business Insider in 2025 as one of the early-stage startups most likely to become one of tech's next unicorns.

Lawrence Gentilello, CEO of Optery, emphasized the growing urgency of the problem his company addresses. “Exposed personal data is a serious security risk that organizations need to address proactively,” he stated. “As attackers continue to leverage data broker sites during reconnaissance, removing that data is a critical mitigation that helps reduce and prevent both cyber and physical threats. The growing recognition of this issue is helping drive demand for solutions like Optery.” The company's success demonstrates a clear market validation for proactive privacy defense, signaling a future where erasing one's digital footprint is not just a personal preference but a fundamental security practice.