Dutch entrepreneur Nalden, a co-founder of the file-sharing service WeTransfer, is developing a new file transfer platform called Boomerang in response to his dissatisfaction with the direction WeTransfer has taken since its acquisition by Bending Spoons last year. Nalden, who co-founded WeTransfer in 2009, expressed concerns over changes implemented by Bending Spoons, a Milan-based tech firm known for acquiring and restructuring popular apps. "Even though I get that it is their private equity strategy, I notice that since I left WeTransfer in 2019, there were a lot of updates that were basically killing the product, in my point of view," Nalden told TechCrunch.

WeTransfer's changes under Bending Spoons included alterations to transfer link functionality and a reduction of its workforce by 75 employees. The company also faced criticism this year for considering the use of user content to train artificial intelligence models, leading to a reversal of planned changes to its terms of service. These actions prompted creatives to voice their frustrations with the platform, according to Nalden.

Boomerang aims to recapture the original ethos of WeTransfer by focusing on simplicity, allowing users to transfer files without requiring registration. Nalden's critique highlights a growing concern within the tech community regarding the impact of private equity acquisitions on established platforms and their user base. The trend of acquiring and restructuring companies often leads to changes that prioritize profitability over user experience, a concern echoed by Nalden's comments.

The file-sharing market has seen significant growth in recent years, driven by the increasing need to transfer large files quickly and easily. WeTransfer, known for its user-friendly interface and free service tier, gained popularity among creatives and professionals. However, changes implemented post-acquisition have seemingly alienated some of its original user base, creating an opportunity for alternative services like Boomerang to emerge.

The launch date and specific technical details of Boomerang are yet to be fully disclosed. However, Nalden's involvement suggests a focus on user-centric design and a return to the principles that initially made WeTransfer a success. The development of Boomerang will be closely watched by those in the tech industry and creative fields, as it represents a potential challenge to WeTransfer's current market position.