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WeTransfer, an online file-sharing software that lets its users transfer large digital files is reportedly planning an IPO (initial public offering) in 2021.
In a conversation with our media folks at RTL Z at The Next Web Conference, Gordon Willoughby, CEO at WeTransfer was quoted saying, “We are now completely focused on the users. That is why we are integrating our service with Mozilla, Slack and Sketch this year.”
He also added, “As we stand now, I think it is possible that we are going to the stock market with a year or two or three.”
As the Amsterdam-based company is focussing a lot on the US market now, the official noted that the IPO will help the company the money to grow internationally.
While the company is targeting an IPO, here today Silicon Canals has compiled a list of 5 important things you should know about one of the super scaleups from the Amsterdam, which made it to the list of 2018 Tech Tour Growth 50, a group of Europe’s most promising tech scale up companies with “unicorn” potential. Take a look at it below.
#1 A user-base of over 40M
WeTransfer is one of the fastest growing Dutch scaleups. The scaleup has over 40 million active users transfer one billion files every month all over the world. WeTransfer has a dual revenue model, split between advertising and premium subscriptions. With WeTransfer Plus, customers benefit from bigger transfer sizes, storage and personalization options.
#2 WeTransfer took only 1 outside investment so far
So far, WeTransfer has taken only one outside investment from Highland Capital Partners, a $25M Series A round. It shows the company has been very judicious with the use of funding and has managed to bootstrap its growth.
Following a $25 million investment from Highland Capital in 2015, WeTransfer opened a US office in Venice Beach, Los Angeles, to add to the Amsterdam headquarters.
#3 WeTransfer has become famous for amusing, quirky illustrations
File transfer is a boring task. Most of WeTransfer’s competitors abroad use minimally designed UI (user interface). This didn’t prevent the Dutch company to experiment and bring life to its UI. For instance, an illustration below shows how it sets itself apart from other file-sharing services.
#4 WeTransfer works with big tech brands already
WeTransfer also works with the world’s biggest brands, including Google, Samsung, Netflix and Squarespace in order to develop and deliver beautiful, full-screen advertisements on our background wallpapers.
The company also supports creative communities by giving away up to 30% of the advertising space to them. Creative partnerships have been launched with some of the world’s most interesting individuals and organizations, including Björk, Trevor Noah, Ryan McGinley, Moby, FKA twigs, alt-J, McSweeney’s, World Press Photo, The Royal Academy of Arts, WWF and the Ace Hotel Group.
On the content side, the company offers WePresent to tell stories about creative minds from around the world and WeTransfer also supports creative leaders by offering free premium accounts to all art students in the United States.
#5 WeTransfer crossed ‘100-employees’ mark
Willoughby recently shared that WeTransfer now employees 100 people and is set to grow as the company plans to hire new engineering talent for its Slack, Mozilla, and Sketch integrations.
Stay tuned to Silicon Canals for more updates in the tech startup media world.
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