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WeTransfer

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WeTransfer
IndustrySoftware
Founded2009
Headquarters
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Alexandar Vassilev , Martha Lane Fox, Melissa Nussbaum, Damian Bradfield
ServicesSaaS
Revenue€72m (2021)[1]
Number of employees
300+ (2021)
Websitewetransfer.com

WeTransfer is a Dutch internet-based computer file transfer service company that was founded in 2009. It is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.[2]

History

WeTransfer was founded in 2009 by Rinke Visser, Bas Beerens and Ronald Hans (Nalden) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.[2] It was created to enable the sharing of large files (up to 2GB) free of charge.[3]

In 2012, WeTransfer implemented a re-design and introduced a 'Plus'[4] service with support for much larger file transfers (up to 5GB) and storage (50GB) as well as sending files to a maximum of 100 recipients for a price.[3]

In 2013, WeTransfer reached profitability.[5]

In 2014, WeTransfer launched "creative-class.tv", an ongoing video series. The company initiated its first bursaries that year through a collaborative partnership with Central Saint Martins.[6] These bursaries supported two students from around the globe in their full-time studies.

In 2015, WeTransfer raised a US$25 million Series A funding round from Highland Capital Partners Europe.[7] They also added venture capitalist Troy Carter to its board.[8]

WeTransfer file transfer limit is 200GB for pro subscribers as of September 2021.[9]

2016 – present

In 2016, WeTransfer announced the acquisition of digital design studio Present Plus,[10] established in 2010 by Damian Bradfield and WeTransfer co-founder Nalden.[10] In September, WeTransfer opened its first office in the United States at Venice Beach, Los Angeles.[11]

In early 2017, Gordon Willoughby became the company's Chief Executive Officer, taking over from Bas Beerens, who became Executive Chairman.[12]

In January 2018, WeTransfer launched content arm "WePresent".[13] In August, WeTransfer acquired app developer FiftyThree, who owned sketching app Paper and collaborative presentation app Paste.[14] In October, WeTransfer relaunched its mobile app with the name "Collect by WeTransfer".[15][16]

In June 2019, WeTransfer experienced a security incident in which files were "sent to the wrong people".[17] In August, the company closed a €35 million secondary funding round led by HPE Growth.[18]

In May 2020, India banned the WeTransfer app, citing security reasons.[19] In June, the company became a certified B Corporation.[20]

In February 2021, WeTransfer achieved carbon-neutral certification, having pledged the previous year to reduce emissions by 30% by 2025.[21] In March, the 2020 short film "The Long Goodbye" by Aneil Karia and Riz Ahmed commissioned by WeTransfer through WePresent won the 2022 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.[22] In April, the WeTransfer Foundation, "Supporting Act", focused on helping emerging creative talent was launched and the company pledged to donate 1% of revenues from 2022 onwards.[23] In October, WeTransfer announced sales in 2020 of €65m.[24]

In April 2021, Reuters reported that the WeTransfer logos and likeness were used in high-profile phishing scams.[25]

In January 2022, WeTransfer planned for an IPO for a valuation of up to $800 million but ended up cancelling the offering shortly before listing citing market volatility.[26]

In 2022, Alexandar Vassilev took over as the company's Chief Executive Officer.[27]

Leadership

Bas Beerens founded the file-sharing platform WeTransfer[28] with Nalden (Ronald Hans) and Rinke Visser in 2009.[29] Beerens also runs the design consultancy OY Communications (initially OY Transfer) from which WeTransfer was developed.[30][31] In 2012, he founded WeMarket, a global B2B marketplace for buyers and suppliers in any industry.[32]

Damian Bradfield, co-founder, joined the company in 2010. Bradfield is currently WeTransfer's Chief Creative Officer.

Chief Executive Gordon Willoughby joined WeTransfer in January 2017.[33] He announced his departure from the company in May 2022 and was replaced by former Chief Technology Officer Alexandar Vassilev.[34]

Chief Financial Officer Melissa Nussbaum joined WeTransfer from King in September 2020.[35]

Martha Lane Fox joined WeTransfer as chair in July 2020.[36]

Technology

WeTransfer is based on Amazon's infrastructure and technology. It uses Amazon S3 for storage and for sending files.[37]

Services

WeTransfer offers a free service where users can send up to two gigabytes of data[38] and a paid option called WeTransfer Pro where users can send up to 200 gigabytes of data as well as have some additional customization options.[39] In May 2023, WeTransfer announced it reduced 78% of server emissions as part of its environmental commitments.[40]

Revenue model

WeTransfer has a dual revenue model split between advertising and premium ("pro") subscriptions.[41]

WeTransfer displays full-screen advertisements while transferring[42] instead of banner ads.[43] The company donates 30% of the advertising inventory to creatives and charitable causes.[44]

See also

References

  1. ^ "WeTransfer owner seeks Amsterdam IPO, plans $182 mln share issue". Reuters. 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
  2. ^ a b Eva Oude Elferink (2013-10-21). "Nalden: 'Door het design van WeTransfer durven mensen het te gebruiken'". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-10-28.
  3. ^ a b "WeTransfer". wetransfer.com. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  4. ^ "WeTransfer: The Internet's Cleanest and Simplest File Sharing Drops a New Beta Version". HYPEBEAST. 2012-09-21. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
  5. ^ Lunden, Ingrid (17 February 2015). "WeTransfer, Funky Dutch Cousin Of Dropbox And Box, Gets $25M To Go Large In The U.S." TechCrunch. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  6. ^ "MA Material Futures Announces New Bursaries". Central Saint Martins. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Dutch startup WeTransfer just raised $25 million to expand into the US". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  8. ^ "Troy Carter Joins The Board Of WeTransfer". Fast Company. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  9. ^ WeTransfer (2021-09-14). "WeTransfer Unveils Teams, Raises File Transfer Limit to 200GB for Pro Subscribers". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  10. ^ a b Lunden, Ingrid. "Dropbox rival WeTransfer acquires Present Plus to boost product and design teams". Techcrunch. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  11. ^ Kissel, Chris (3 October 2016). "How to Make Your Tech Company Cool: Throw a Party With Kamasi Washington". LA Weekly. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  12. ^ Lunden, Ingrid (15 December 2016). "WeTransfer's founder leaves CEO role, ex-Amazon exec steps in for commercial push". TechCrunch. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  13. ^ Kiefer, Brittaney (December 13, 2021). "WeTransfer's Creative Work Has Qualified for the Oscars". Adweek. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  14. ^ "WeTransfer buys creative apps Paper and Paste from FiftyThree". The Verge. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  15. ^ Hardwick, Tim (October 30, 2018). "WeTransfer Relaunches Mobile File-Sharing App as 'Collect'". Mac Rumors. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  16. ^ Lucic, Kristijan (October 29, 2018). "WeTransfer App Gets Rebranded To 'Collect by WeTransfer'". Android Headlines. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  17. ^ "WeTransfer Security Incident Sent Files to the Wrong People". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
  18. ^ O'Hear, Steve (19 August 2019). "HPE Growth backs WeTransfer in €35M secondary funding round". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  19. ^ "WeTransfer 'Partially' Blocked in India, Company Says". NDTV Gadgets 360. 31 May 2020. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  20. ^ Aziz, Afdhel. "WeTransfer Announces It Is Becoming A B-Corp". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  21. ^ "WeTransfer turns to offsets to achieve carbon-neutral certification". edie.net. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  22. ^ "Riz Ahmed wins Oscar for The Long Goodbye". the Guardian. 2022-03-27. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  23. ^ Tait, Simon (22 April 2021). "WeTransfer sets up foundation to train future creatives". artsindustry.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  24. ^ "WeTransfer Sales Jump to $76 Million in 2020 Before Possible IPO". Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg L.P. 25 October 2021. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  25. ^ Browne, Ryan (2021-04-24). "Fake 'WeTransfer' file download steals Aussies' personal details". Yahoo. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  26. ^ Browne, Ryan (2022-01-27). "The stock market is so volatile that one European tech firm has canceled its IPO". CNBC. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
  27. ^ Levingston, Ivan (2022-05-03). "WeTransfer Boss Willoughby to Exit, CTO Vassilev to Succeed". Bloomberg News.
  28. ^ Send large files to clients with these 11 free tools on creativebloq.com. Retrieved 16 July 2018
  29. ^ Gratis en eenvoudig grote bestanden te delen met WeTransfer on eenmanierom.nl. Retrieved 16 July 2018
  30. ^ "WeTransfer". Resource. No. 16. Summer 2011. p. 82. Retrieved 16 July 2018 – via Issuu.
  31. ^ 2012 Article on european-startups Wired. Retrieved 16 July 2018
  32. ^ B2B marketplace WeMarket launches for global companies on internetretailer.com.
  33. ^ "File-sending scaleup WeTransfer CEO Gordon Willoughby on becoming a B Corp: 'It fits our purpose'". 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  34. ^ "WeTransfer Boss Willoughby to Exit, CTO Vassilev to Succeed". Bloomberg L.P. 2022-05-03. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
  35. ^ Trentmann, Nina (2020-09-24). "File-Sharing Company WeTransfer Names First CFO". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  36. ^ Aziz, Afdhel. "WeTransfer Announces It Is Becoming A B-Corp". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  37. ^ "AWS Case Study: WeTransfer". Amazon Web Services, Inc. Retrieved 2019-05-22.
  38. ^ "Controlling the cloud: how to make the most of your online storage". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  39. ^ "How to share huge files online". Popular Science. 2022-03-26. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  40. ^ "Tech tackles carbon: WeTransfer and Apple confirm emissions cuts, TikTok moves to tackle climate misinformation". www.businessgreen.com. 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  41. ^ "WeTransfer Case Study". Amazon Web Services, Inc. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
  42. ^ "Behance". behance.net. April 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  43. ^ "How The Cofounder Of WeTransfer Went From Blog To Startup". Fast Company. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  44. ^ Budds, Diana (2017-10-12). "WeTransfer's Plan To Disrupt The Creative Process". Fast Company. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
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