Dutch entrepreneur Nalden, a co-founder of the popular file-sharing service WeTransfer, is developing a new file transfer service called Boomerang, citing dissatisfaction with the direction WeTransfer has taken since its acquisition by Bending Spoons last year. Nalden, who co-founded WeTransfer in 2009, expressed his concerns about changes implemented by Bending Spoons, a Milan-based tech firm known for acquiring and restructuring popular apps.
Nalden told TechCrunch that Bending Spoons "doesn't really care about people," and that updates since his departure from WeTransfer in 2019 have been "basically killing the product, in my point of view." He pointed to unclear changes in how transfer links function and the layoff of 75 staff members after the acquisition. WeTransfer also faced criticism this year for considering the use of user content to train AI models, a decision they later reversed after backlash.
The controversy prompted creatives to reach out to Nalden with their frustrations, leading him to create Boomerang as an alternative that embodies the original ethos of WeTransfer: simplicity. Boomerang allows users to transfer files without requiring a login.
WeTransfer, known for its free file-sharing service used by millions globally, was acquired by Bending Spoons, a company that specializes in acquiring and optimizing existing apps. This business model often involves cost-cutting measures and changes to product features, which can sometimes alienate the original user base.
The acquisition and subsequent changes at WeTransfer highlight the challenges faced by tech companies balancing growth and profitability with user experience and community values. Nalden's decision to create Boomerang reflects a desire to return to a simpler, more user-centric approach to file sharing. The launch date and further details about Boomerang's features are yet to be announced.
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