WeTransfer

WeTransfer is an internet-based computer file transfer service based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 2009 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]

WeTransfer
OwnerWeTransfer B.V.
Founder(s)Rinke Visser, Nalden, Bas Beerens[1]
URLwww.wetransfer.com
Alexa rank 147 (April 16 2020)[2]
Launched2009

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
  1. Vanier, Rachel. "Ask Me Anything with Nalden, co-founder of We Transfer". Medium.
  2. Site Overview wetransfer.com, Alexa Internet. Retrieved on 16 April 2020.
  3. 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.
  4. Hardwick, Tim (October 30, 2018). "WeTransfer Relaunches Mobile File-Sharing App as 'Collect'". Mac Rumors. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  5. Lucic, Kristijan (October 29, 2018). "WeTransfer App Gets Rebranded To 'Collect by WeTransfer'". Android Headlines. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  6. "WeTransfer 'Partially' Blocked in India, Company Says". NDTV Gadgets 360. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  7. WeTransfer. "WeTransfer". www.wetransfer.com. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  8. "Summer 2011". Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  9. Lunden, Ingrid. "WeTransfer, Funky Dutch Cousin Of Dropbox And Box, Gets $25M To Go Large In The U.S." TechCrunch. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  10. "MA Material Futures Announces New Bursaries". Central Saint Martins. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  11. "Dutch startup WeTransfer just raised $25 million to expand into the US". Business Insider. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  12. "Troy Carter Joins The Board Of WeTransfer". fastcompany.com. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  13. Lunden, Ingrid. "Dropbox rival WeTransfer acquires Present Plus to boost product and design teams - TechCrunch". techcrunch.com. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  14. Kissel, Chris (3 October 2016). "How to Make Your Tech Company Cool: Throw a Party With Kamasi Washington". LA Weekly. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  15. Lunden, Ingrid. "WeTransfer's founder leaves CEO role, ex-Amazon exec steps in for commercial push". TechCrunch. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  16. "WeTransfer buys creative apps Paper and Paste from FiftyThree". The Verge. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  17. O'Hear, Steve (19 August 2019). "HPE Growth backs WeTransfer in €35M secondary funding round". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  18. Aziz, Afdhel. "WeTransfer Announces It Is Becoming A B-Corp". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  19. Send large files to clients with these 11 free tools on creativebloq.com, accessed 16 July 2018
  20. Gratis en eenvoudig grote bestanden te delen met WeTransfer on eenmanierom.nl, accessed 16 July 2018
  21. Article on WeTransfer in issue_16 summer_2011-2 (see p82) at issuu.com, accessed 16 July 2018
  22. 2012 Article on european-startups wired.co.uk, accessed 16 July 2018
  23. B2B marketplace WeMarket launches for global companies on internetretailer.com.
  24. "AWS Case Study: WeTransfer". Amazon Web Services, Inc. Retrieved 2019-05-22.
  25. Spadafora, Anthony (24 June 2019). "WeTransfer suffered a security incident last week". TechRadar. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  26. "WeTransfer Plus". 2018-08-23.
  27. "Behance". www.behance.net. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  28. "How The Cofounder Of WeTransfer Went From Blog To Startup". fastcompany.com. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
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