Surfshark: From Vilnius to the World

Surfshark didn’t really “arrive” in Vilnius – it grew up here. And that’s already a different kind of story.

Founded by Lithuanians with a clear vision to make the internet safer and more open for everyone, the company’s journey began right in the capital of Lithuania. “Surfshark never considered any other place but Vilnius,” says Beatrice Leikaitė, Head of HR at Surfshark.

What started as a small team driven by shared values and curiosity quickly evolved into a global player in the cybersecurity and privacy space. From its base in Vilnius, Surfshark built and tested world-class digital protection tools that now reach millions of users worldwide. The company’s growth has always been rooted in the culture of collaboration and ambition that defines the Vilnius tech community – an environment that continues to inspire Surfshark’s next chapters of innovation.

Vilnius Chapter

When Surfshark launched in 2018, Vilnius was already buzzing with startup energy. For the company’s Lithuanian founders, starting here wasn’t just a natural choice, it was a strategic one. Vilnius offered the right base of skilled tech professionals, supportive institutions, and a fast-moving business environment, which allowed new ideas to turn into products.

“Vilnius has a unique rhythm – things happen fast here,” recalls Beatrice Leikaitė, Head of HR at Surfshark. “You can reach decision-makers, partners, or institutions directly. The collaboration between the public sector, startups, and universities really helps companies like ours grow.”

Organizations like Invest Lithuania and Startup Lithuania helped shape favorable conditions for tech growth, simplifying processes and promoting Lithuania’s potential abroad. At the same time, Tesonet’s mentorship culture and the broader Unicorns Lithuania community provided access to shared expertise, infrastructure, and networks that allowed Surfshark to focus on scaling.

Within just two years, the company had established its own office in Vilnius, grown to several dozen specialists, and launched its first global product updates – all developed locally. This combination of accessible talent, collaborative infrastructure, and institutional support gave Surfshark the ability to move quickly and grow sustainably while keeping its core firmly rooted in Vilnius.

From Challenge to Growth

As Surfshark scaled rapidly, growth itself became one of its biggest challenges. “It’s a great sort of issue to have, but in a way, our growth was too quick, meaning that by our third or fourth year, we could no longer meet our hiring needs in Vilnius,” recalls Head of HR at Surfshark. While Lithuania produces exceptional tech talent, the local IT market is highly competitive.

Building a VPN brand from scratch also meant developing much of the needed infrastructure internally. “There weren’t many companies dealing with the infrastructure we required, so we decided to uptrain IT professionals in the specific areas needed,” explains Beatrice. This mindset of growing talent from within became a defining part of Surfshark’s culture: supported by Lithuania’s agile ecosystem and strong technical education.

To address its growing needs, Surfshark kept its headquarters in Vilnius but expanded into Kaunas, Warsaw, and Berlin, maintaining its cultural identity while accessing a broader talent pool.

Scaling Success

Within just two years, Surfshark became one of the top three VPN providers in the world, growing from 30 to 200 employees and reaching 1 million users in 30 months. The growth never slowed - today, Surfshark employs over 500 people across eight countries.

The company’s success came hand in hand with its evolving product suite. In 2019, Surfshark introduced Alert & Search, followed by Antivirus and Incogni in 2021, the latter helping users remove personal data from data brokers. Then, in 2022, a defining milestone: together with Nord Security, Surfshark achieved unicorn status with a $1.6 billion valuation.

Recognition soon followed. In 2023, Surfshark ranked among the Financial Times Top 50 Fastest-Growing Companies in Europe and was named the third most reputable company in Lithuania, reaching 3 million users worldwide.

Moreover as Beatrice emphasizes, not all progress can be measured in numbers. “Surfshark has invested heavily in driving online security measures – not just improving one product, but expanding it, adding new functionalities and capabilities. It’s a great indicator that we’ve kept to our startup roots, always looking for ways to do more.”

Through this, Surfshark’s presence in Vilnius has become more than just operational - it’s transformational. The company provides high-value jobs, contributes to the local economy, and serves as proof that world-class cybersecurity innovation can thrive here. “As a widely recognized brand, Surfshark can also inspire emerging companies in Lithuania – no better place to build your startup than home.”

Looking Ahead: Vilnius as the Heart of Future Growth

For Surfshark, the future in Lithuania is not about changing course – it’s about continuing to grow from a strong foundation. “We intend to continue doing what we do best: launching more products that enhance users’ online experiences,” says Beatrice Leikaitė. Innovation and user-focused technology will remain at the core of Surfshark’s global expansion, supported by a steady search for creative and technically gifted professionals.

Vilnius will continue to play a central role in that journey. “Vilnius will remain our primary hub, as it always has been,” Beatrice explains. The Cyber City campus, home to most of Surfshark’s team and thousands of other Tesonet professionals, has become a thriving ecosystem where technology, creativity, and collaboration intersect. It’s the place where many of the company’s ideas are born and brought to life.

With the expansion of Cyber City already underway, Surfshark’s commitment to Lithuania is both strategic and symbolic. The company is not only growing its operations but also helping to shape Vilnius into a global innovation hub – a city where cybersecurity expertise, creative ambition, and a spirit of collaboration define one of Europe’s most dynamic tech landscapes.