LiveDrop: how Dutch tech is rewriting the rules of secure communication

In an era of always-on connectivity, LiveDrop is creating something unique: a technology that allows secure, wireless data transfer even when traditional networks are unavailable. It works by sending information from a screen to a camera without relying on radio signals like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or mobile networks. This technology addresses a growing issue: how to share important data when conventional communication methods fail.

Founded in 2021, LiveDrop was born out of a startup ideation session in Eindhoven between PhD physicist Erno Langendijk, now Chief Technology Officer, and experienced tech entrepreneur and co-founder Maarten Tobias. After landing on the concept, they brought in Patrick Moreu as CEO to help lead the company’s development. A serial entrepreneur with a track record of building ventures, from a Christmas hamper business, and creating office furniture brands to building a network of hair removal salons, Moreu brings broad business experience and a passion for entering new markets. As Moreu puts it, entrepreneurship is in his DNA.

Under Moreu’s leadership, LiveDrop transitioned from a promising concept to a deep-tech start-up with real-world impact. From NATO operations and secure defence logistics to hospital corridors and patient records, LiveDrop’s technology is fast becoming an enabler across sectors. The company is part of a new generation of Dutch start-ups tackling complex problems through deep-tech. In doing so, they’re showing the strength of the Netherlands as a hub for dual-use innovation.

Patrick Moreu (CEO of LiveDrop): 

“We’re enabling systems to talk to each other, without needing to be connected. In fragmented environments where interoperability is difficult, or where radio signals are blocked for security reasons, our technology creates a safe, simple solution.”

From concept to critical use

LiveDrop’s concept is both simple and groundbreaking. Instead of relying on traditional radio-frequency technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or mobile networks, the platform enables devices to transfer data visually. One device displays a dynamic code, while the other uses a camera to receive, decode and process it. What began as a small experiment quickly became a practical solution. The platform’s potential became clear in environments where digital infrastructure is unreliable or intentionally disabled.

“Take defence, for instance,” says Moreu. “In radio-frequency-denied scenarios, you don’t want to emit any signal at all. But you still need to exchange mission-critical information, between soldiers, units, or allies. That’s where LiveDrop comes in.”

The same principles apply in healthcare. In emergencies or cross-border situations, immediate access to medical records can be life-saving. LiveDrop allows patients to securely store and instantly transfer their encrypted data, even without an internet connection, while ensuring compliance with data protection regulations in a simple, user-friendly way.

Scaling through ecosystem support

LiveDrop’s success mirrors the innovative, collaborative spirit of the Dutch start-up ecosystem. The founding team, with backgrounds in physics, entrepreneurship, and business development, initially explored the technology and searched for the right problems to solve.

This process involved extensive testing and validation, and later benefited from support within the Dutch ecosystem, including the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Through trade missions, strategic coaching, and international positioning, RVO played an important role in LiveDrop’s internationalisation strategy.

“RVO opened doors for us, not only to events like CES and Slush, but also in terms of defining a clear international market approach,” says Moreu.

The increased visibility has led to promising partnerships, including pilot projects in Dutch hospitals, collaborations in the energy sector, and strategic alliances with global leaders like Intel Corporation. As a result, LiveDrop has shifted from broad tech expos to more specialised events targeting sectors such as digital health, defence, and cyber security.

Ready for scale

With early pilots now complete and new use cases on the horizon, LiveDrop is focused on two key developments: transfer speed and integration.

The latest version of the platform reaches data transfer speeds of over 700 kilobits per second, and the version in Research & Development is already faster than Bluetooth! The next step is integration in software applications, and at the hardware level, embedding LiveDrop’s protocol directly into camera drivers so devices can automatically detect and process visual transfers.

In the defence domain, the technology’s potential as a secure, offline solution for connecting different systems is especially valuable for multinational operations like those conducted under NATO. With each participating country using different platforms and cyber security protocols, a neutral, visual method for data exchange could prove transformative.

“Our goal is to make LiveDrop the default method for secure offline data transfer,” says Moreu. “It’s a Dutch technology with the potential to solve a global problem.”

As disruptions to digital infrastructure become more frequent, due to technical failures, environmental events, or operational constraints, the need for resilient, offline communication continues to grow. With its roots in Dutch innovation and a clear eye on global impact, LiveDrop is ready to lead the way.