WeTransfer

WeTransfer is an internet-based computer file transfer service based in the Netherlands. Founded in 2009, the company was based in Amsterdam by Rinke Visser, Bas Beerens and Nalden (Ronald Hans).[2]

WeTransfer
IndustrySoftware
Founded2009
Headquarters
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Gordon Willoughby, Martha Lane Fox, Melissa Nussbaum
ServicesSaaS
Revenue€65m (2020)[1]
Number of employees
300+ (2021)
Websitewetransfer.com

History

WeTransfer was founded in 2009 by Rinke Visser, Bas Beerens and Nalden.[2] It was created to enable large files to be shared.[3]

In 2012, WeTransfer implemented a re-design and introduced a 'Pro' service, supporting transfers of larger files, more storage, an address book, and the ability to protect files with a password.[3]

In 2013, WeTransfer reached profitability.[4] In 2014, WeTransfer launched creative-class.tv, an ongoing video series. WeTransfer initiated its first bursaries that year, through a collaborative partnership with Central Saint Martins.[5] 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,[6] and added venture capitalist Troy Carter to its board.[7]

2016–present

In 2016, WeTransfer announced the acquisition of digital design studio Present Plus,[8] established in 2010 by Damian Bradfield and WeTransfer co-founder Nalden.[8] In September 2016, WeTransfer opened its first office in the United States, in Venice Beach, Los Angeles.[9] In early 2017, Gordon Willoughby became the company's Chief Executive Officer, taking over from Bas Beerens, who became Executive Chairman.[10]

In January 2018 WeTransfer launched WePresent a content arm that has a staff of 10 working across Amsterdam, Los Angeles and London, and produces editorial features, short films, music videos, photography series, exhibitions and social media activations.[11]

In August 2018, WeTransfer acquired app developer FiftyThree, whose portfolio included sketching app Paper and collaborative presentation app Paste.[12]

In October 2018, WeTransfer relaunched its app with the name "Collect by WeTransfer".[13][14]

In August 2019, the company closed a €35 million secondary funding round led by HPE Growth.[15]

In May 2020, India banned the WeTransfer app, citing security reasons.[16]

In June 2020, the company became a certified B Corporation.[17]

In February 2021, Wetransfer achieved carbon-neutral certification having pledged the previous year to reduce emissions by 30% by 2025.[18]

In April 2021, the WeTransfer Foundation was launched. Called Supporting Act the foundation supports emerging creative talent. The company pledged to donate 1% of revenues from 2022 onwards.[19]

In October 2021, WeTransfer announced sales in 2020 of €65m.[20]

In collaboration with actor and musician Riz Ahmed and director Aneil Karia, WeTransfer's digital arts platform WePresent commissioned and distributed the short film The Long Goodbye, which was nominated for a 2022 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short.[21]

Leadership

Bas Beerens founded the file-sharing platform WeTransfer[22] with Nalden (Ronald Hans) and Rinke Visser in 2009.[23]

Beerens also runs the design consultancy OY Communications, from which WeTransfer was developed, initially as OY Transfer.[24][25] In 2012, he founded WeMarket, a global B2B marketplace for buyers and suppliers in any industry.[26]

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.[27]

Chief financial officer Melissa Nussbaum joined WeTransfer from King in September 2020.[28]

Martha Lane Fox joined WeTransfer as Chair in July 2020.[29]

Technology

WeTransfer is based on Amazon's infrastructure and technology. It uses Amazon S3 for storage and for sending files.[30]

Services

WeTransfer offers a free service where users can send up to two gigabytes of files, and a paid option called WeTransfer Pro where users can send up to 200 gigabytes of files.[31] WeTransfer Pro 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 Pro account 200 GB files can be transferred, 1 TB stored, and password and personalization options.[32]

WeTransfer displays full-screen advertisements while transferring,[33] instead of banner ads.[34] The company donates 30% of this advertising inventory to creatives and charitable causes.[35]

See also

References
  1. "WeTransfer Sales Jump to $76 Million in 2020 Before Possible IPO". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2022-03-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. 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.
  3. WeTransfer. "WeTransfer". www.wetransfer.com. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  4. Lunden, Ingrid. "WeTransfer, Funky Dutch Cousin Of Dropbox And Box, Gets $25M To Go Large In The U.S." TechCrunch. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  5. "MA Material Futures Announces New Bursaries". Central Saint Martins. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  6. "Dutch startup WeTransfer just raised $25 million to expand into the US". Business Insider. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  7. "Troy Carter Joins The Board Of WeTransfer". fastcompany.com. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  8. Lunden, Ingrid. "Dropbox rival WeTransfer acquires Present Plus to boost product and design teams - TechCrunch". techcrunch.com. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  9. Kissel, Chris (3 October 2016). "How to Make Your Tech Company Cool: Throw a Party With Kamasi Washington". LA Weekly. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  10. Lunden, Ingrid. "WeTransfer's founder leaves CEO role, ex-Amazon exec steps in for commercial push". TechCrunch. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  11. KieferDecember 13, Brittaney; 2021. "WeTransfer's Creative Work Has Qualified for the Oscars". Retrieved 2022-03-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. "WeTransfer buys creative apps Paper and Paste from FiftyThree". The Verge. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  13. Hardwick, Tim (October 30, 2018). "WeTransfer Relaunches Mobile File-Sharing App as 'Collect'". Mac Rumors. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  14. Lucic, Kristijan (October 29, 2018). "WeTransfer App Gets Rebranded To 'Collect by WeTransfer'". Android Headlines. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  15. O'Hear, Steve (19 August 2019). "HPE Growth backs WeTransfer in €35M secondary funding round". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  16. "WeTransfer 'Partially' Blocked in India, Company Says". NDTV Gadgets 360. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  17. Aziz, Afdhel. "WeTransfer Announces It Is Becoming A B-Corp". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  18. "WeTransfer turns to offsets to achieve carbon-neutral certification". edie.net. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  19. tait, simon. "WeTransfer sets up foundation to train future creatives". artsindustry.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  20. "WeTransfer Sales Jump to $76 Million in 2020 Before Possible IPO". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. Corona, Luz (March 8, 2022). "WeTransfer Editor in Chief Isn't Just Telling Stories—She's Earning Oscar Nods". AdWeek.
  22. Send large files to clients with these 11 free tools on creativebloq.com, accessed 16 July 2018
  23. Gratis en eenvoudig grote bestanden te delen met WeTransfer on eenmanierom.nl, accessed 16 July 2018
  24. Article on WeTransfer in issue_16 summer_2011-2 (see p82) at issuu.com, accessed 16 July 2018
  25. 2012 Article on european-startups wired.co.uk, accessed 16 July 2018
  26. B2B marketplace WeMarket launches for global companies on internetretailer.com.
  27. "File-sending scaleup WeTransfer CEO Gordon Willoughby on becoming a B Corp: "It fits our purpose"". 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  28. Trentmann, Nina (2020-09-24). "File-Sharing Company WeTransfer Names First CFO". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  29. Aziz, Afdhel. "WeTransfer Announces It Is Becoming A B-Corp". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  30. "AWS Case Study: WeTransfer". Amazon Web Services, Inc. Retrieved 2019-05-22.
  31. Spadafora, Anthony (24 June 2019). "WeTransfer suffered a security incident last week". TechRadar. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  32. "WeTransfer Plus". 2018-08-23.
  33. "Behance". www.behance.net. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  34. "How The Cofounder Of WeTransfer Went From Blog To Startup". fastcompany.com. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  35. Budds, Diana (2017-10-12). "WeTransfer's Plan To Disrupt The Creative Process". Fast Company. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
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