WeTransfer
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Owner | WeTransfer B.V. |
---|---|
Founder(s) | Rinke Visser, Nalden, Bas Beerens[1] |
URL | www |
Launched | 2009 |
WeTransfer is an internet-based computer file transfer service based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in Amsterdam by Rinke Visser, Bas Beerens and Nalden.[3] In October 2018, WeTransfer relaunched its app with the name "Collect by WeTransfer".[4][5] In May, 2020 India banned the WeTransfer app, citing security reasons.[6]
History
Early development and launch
WeTransfer was founded in 2009[7] and evolved from Beerens's frustration at not being able to share large files easily. WeTransfer had to be 'simple enough for your parents to use'.[8] Nalden, who ran the blog Nalden.net, was approached by Beerens and added the idea of full-screen background imagery.[7] WeTransfer was later turned into a stand-alone business.[7]
2010–2012
In 2012, WeTransfer implemented a re-design and introduced its premium 'Pro' service, supporting transfers of larger files, and storage, an address book, and the ability to protect files with a password.[7]
2013–2015
Self-funded from its launch in 2009, WeTransfer reached profitability in 2013.[9] In 2014, WeTransfer launched creativeclass.tv, an ongoing video series. WeTransfer initiated its first bursaries that year, through a collaborative partnership with Central Saint Martins.[10] 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,[11] and added venture capitalist Troy Carter to its board.[12]
2016–present
In 2016, WeTransfer announced the acquisition of digital design studio Present Plus,[13] established in 2010 by Damian Bradfield and WeTransfer co-founder Nalden,[13] whose clients included Adidas, MR PORTER, British Airways, Sonos and Christie’s.
In September 2016 WeTransfer opened their first office in the United States, in Venice Beach, Los Angeles.[14] In early 2017, Gordon Willoughby became the company's Chief Executive Officer, taking over from Bas Beerens, who became Executive Chairman.[15]
In August 2018, WeTransfer acquired app developer FiftyThree, whose portfolio included sketching app Paper and collaborative presentation app Paste.[16]
In August 2019, the company closed a €35 million secondary funding round led by HPE Growth.[17]
In June 2020, the company became a certified B Corporation.[18]
Leadership
Bas Beerens founded the file-sharing platform WeTransfer[19] with Nalden (Ronald Hans) and Rinke Visser in 2009.[20]
Beerens also runs the design consultancy OY Communications, from which WeTransfer was developed, initially as OY Transfer.[21][22] In 2012, he founded WeMarket, a global B2B marketplace for buyers and suppliers in any industry.[23]
Technology
WeTransfer is based on Amazon's infrastructure and technology. It uses Amazon S3 for storage and for sending files.[24]
Services
WeTransfer offers a free service where users can send up to two gigabytes of files, and a paid option, called WeTransfer Plus where users can send up to 20 gigabytes of files.[25] WeTransfer Plus also allows users to add passwords to files.
Revenue model
WeTransfer has a dual revenue model; split between advertising and premium subscriptions. With a free account, users can send files of up to 2 GB. With a premium account 20 GB files can be transferred, 1 TB stored, and password and personalization options.[26]
WeTransfer displays full-screen advertisements while transferring,[27] instead of banner ads.[28]
See also
References
- ^ Vanier, Rachel. "Ask Me Anything with Nalden, co-founder of We Transfer". Medium.
- ^ Site Overview wetransfer.com, Alexa Internet. Retrieved on 16 April 2020.
- ^ Eva Oude Elferink (2013-10-21). "Nalden: 'Door het design van WeTransfer durven mensen het te gebruiken'" (in Dutch). Volkskrant.nl. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
- ^ Hardwick, Tim (October 30, 2018). "WeTransfer Relaunches Mobile File-Sharing App as 'Collect'". Mac Rumors. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
- ^ Lucic, Kristijan (October 29, 2018). "WeTransfer App Gets Rebranded To 'Collect by WeTransfer'". Android Headlines. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
- ^ "WeTransfer 'Partially' Blocked in India, Company Says". NDTV Gadgets 360. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
- ^ a b c d WeTransfer. "WeTransfer". www.wetransfer.com. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- ^ "Summer 2011". Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- ^ Lunden, Ingrid. "WeTransfer, Funky Dutch Cousin Of Dropbox And Box, Gets $25M To Go Large In The U.S." TechCrunch. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- ^ "MA Material Futures Announces New Bursaries". Central Saint Martins. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "Dutch startup WeTransfer just raised $25 million to expand into the US". Business Insider. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ "Troy Carter Joins The Board Of WeTransfer". fastcompany.com. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- ^ a b Lunden, Ingrid. "Dropbox rival WeTransfer acquires Present Plus to boost product and design teams - TechCrunch". techcrunch.com. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- ^ Kissel, Chris (3 October 2016). "How to Make Your Tech Company Cool: Throw a Party With Kamasi Washington". LA Weekly. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- ^ Lunden, Ingrid. "WeTransfer's founder leaves CEO role, ex-Amazon exec steps in for commercial push". TechCrunch. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- ^ "WeTransfer buys creative apps Paper and Paste from FiftyThree". The Verge. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
- ^ O'Hear, Steve (19 August 2019). "HPE Growth backs WeTransfer in €35M secondary funding round". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Aziz, Afdhel. "WeTransfer Announces It Is Becoming A B-Corp". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
- ^ Send large files to clients with these 11 free tools on creativebloq.com, accessed 16 July 2018
- ^ Gratis en eenvoudig grote bestanden te delen met WeTransfer on eenmanierom.nl, accessed 16 July 2018
- ^ Article on WeTransfer in issue_16 summer_2011-2 (see p82) at issuu.com, accessed 16 July 2018
- ^ 2012 Article on european-startups wired.co.uk, accessed 16 July 2018
- ^ B2B marketplace WeMarket launches for global companies on internetretailer.com.
- ^ "AWS Case Study: WeTransfer". Amazon Web Services, Inc. Retrieved 2019-05-22.
- ^ Spadafora, Anthony (24 June 2019). "WeTransfer suffered a security incident last week". TechRadar. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "WeTransfer Plus". 2018-08-23.
- ^ "Behance". www.behance.net. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- ^ "How The Cofounder Of WeTransfer Went From Blog To Startup". fastcompany.com. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2017.