Nalden

Yooo, where am I?

This site once started as a blog, now we here....

Okay, who are you?

I'm Nalden. A founder and investor blah blah blah. I went online in my teens and never really logged off. The blog kickstarted many adventures such as a record label, a design & film studio, and then WeTransfer, my first startup.

What was WeTransfer, in your words?

The friendliest upload button on the web. We started in 2008, kept it stubbornly simple, and bootstrapped for years before raising €60M. I gave it a decade, then handed over the keys, with 85 million people a month choosing us to share files. The part I'm proudest of might be WePresent, our love letter to creativity.

Why leave something that big?

Ten years is a long time to push one button. I missed the scrappy, zero-to-one part, so I went back to the beginning on purpose. Also... I became a parent, and had to learn it's nothing like a parent company.

So what are you doing now?

Today there's a new Nternet Company. It's kinda like a startup studio where software is our love language. So far we've made Rumicat, Boomerang, Foto Foto, Claro, and Nendo. Having fun is the new MOAT.

Boomerang... another file-sharing tool?

Guilty. Some things you have to do twice to get right. TechCrunch was kind enough to ask me why. It's free, simple, and... oh yeah, we don't exploit your data.

Soooo, do you also invest?

A little. I back people based on vibes, not decks. Polarsteps, Formitable, Fiberplane, Stellar Development, a couple of early-stage funds. Nothing huge. It's hard to resist people who believe in magic and build the future they want.

What do you actually believe?

I'm an optimist, however everyone is a product of the environment they're in. So, before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes.

So, aren't you online a bit much?

Almost certainly. I balance it offline with a cinema, had a quick stint on the board of the Stedelijk, preserving Wild Animals, and a real affection for MtB, roadtrips and travel that, occasionally, keeps me away from the keyboard.

What are you listening to these days?

Recently I've re-discovered this mix Lazersword made a while back. Next to that, it's a bit of 90s hiphop, Warp Records, and anything from my shuffle playlist.

How do you deal with press?

So so. Or as my kids would say... six-seven! Usually they reach out for provocative one-liners, or to have me share my story on the radio. Though I think my mum was proudest when the blog made it onto De Wereld Draait Door. FML!

How do I slide into DMs?

I prefer email. The inbox is always open. But if you insist... I'm also on Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. Actually, maybe subscribe to my newsletter first.