#220: Matt Hill

— Start9 Labs is building Embassy, a self-sovereign personal server running on Raspberry Pi 4 hardware that enables individuals to control their data, communications, and smart home devices without relying on centralized platforms like Google, Apple, or Amazon.

— The Embassy interface uses Tor hidden services (onion addresses) and browser-based access, circumventing Apple's App Store restrictions that blocked their native iOS app; users can now manage their server remotely via Firefox, Brave, or other browsers with full end-to-end encryption.

— Apple's rejection of their app demonstrated how centralized platforms can arbitrarily block software; Start9 Labs responded by pivoting to web-based access, making their system "unstoppable" by eliminating single points of failure.

— Start9's long-term vision is an open-source, self-hosted alternative to the centralized cloud model, positioning Embassy OS as a platform for IoT devices, home security cameras, and smart homes that remain under user control rather than corporate surveillance.

— The company is currently five developers and is hiring to expand; their roadmap includes a higher-performance "Embassy Home" device, a self-hosted home security camera, and broader adoption of Embassy OS across different hardware platforms.

— Privacy and physical safety concerns drive adoption—smart speakers, locks, and connected cars pose security risks if controlled by cloud providers; Start9 Labs offers an alternative where devices coordinate on a personal private cloud.

— Consider purchasing an Embassy device ($269) or installing the standalone Embassy OS on your own Raspberry Pi to run a self-sovereign Bitcoin node and access open-source alternatives to centralized cloud services without data compromise.

— Evaluate your current smart home setup: if you rely on Google Home, Alexa, or Ring cameras, you are accepting physical security and privacy risks; migrate toward Embassy-based alternatives as they become available, starting with the Embassy node.

— Support Start9 Labs' mission by spreading awareness, creating tutorials, or purchasing their products; only through market adoption can they fund hiring and accelerate development of the camera product and Embassy Home competitive with Alexa and Google Home.