WeTransfer was founded in Amsterdam in 2009 as a file-sharing tool to solve the problems frequently faced by designers and creatives—being unable to send large, design-heavy files over the internet.
From the beginning, 30% of all advertising inventory is donated to promote the work of other creatives and charitable causes. Alongside its commitment to the creative community, WeTransfer strives to have a positive impact on social and environmental issues—balancing people, planet, and profit. That’s why, in March 2020, WeTransfer became one of the very few global tech companies to be awarded B Corp status.
As a certified B Corporation™, WeTransfer supports issues such as climate change by maintaining a climate-neutral status and aiming to reduce its carbon footprint by 30% by 2025. The company is also focused on promoting diversity and inclusion, as well as championing employee mental health.
What is a B Corp?
Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose while making a positive impact on the world.
Organizations must, now more than ever, assume their vital role in rebuilding an economy that needs to be more inclusive and sustainable and be a catalyst for positive social change, using their growth and leading-edge for a broader and equitable impact on our communities.
What’s important is that B Corps don’t just say they’re making a difference: they’re verified to do so. To become a B Corp, businesses have to – in the words of the B Corp movement – “meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability”. The B stands for “benefit,” and refers to benefiting workers, the community, and the environment.
Based on the B Impact assessment, WeTransfer.com earned an overall score of 80.4. The median score for ordinary businesses who complete the assessment is currently 50.9 (80.4 Overall B Impact Score/80 Qualifies for B Corp Certification/50.9 Median Score for Ordinary Businesses).
A good plan goes a long way. That’s why at WeTransfer, transparency and accountability are baked into our business model. Being a B Corp means our promise to be better for people, communities, and the planet is locked in, regardless of any future change of management or ownership.
Good ideas deserve good company, and as a Certified B Corporation, we strive to use our business as a force for positive change. We couldn't have made it all this way without the great support of everyone who uses our platform. Thank you for enabling us to commit to a better internet and a better world for everyone through campaigns for issues like net neutrality and mental health to wiping out $30 million of medical debt for those in need.
We still have a long way to go though and this is what we have planned:
- WeTransfer will endow the Supporting Act foundation with an initial €1M and thereafter commit 1% of future annual revenues. As well as funding education, the foundation will offer grants for talented artists and creators at the start of their careers.
- WeTransfer will offer other B Corps a 20% discount on advertising.
- Doubling down on our community initiatives and continue donating 30% of advertising space to raise awareness for up-and-coming artists, creative work, and the world’s most pressing issues.
- After becoming climate neutral at the end of 2020, we want to continue this journey with a new goal in mind: reducing our overall carbon emissions by 30% by 2025.
- Increase the value our products bring and the satisfaction of our users.
- Get recognized as a best place to work.
We’re proud of being a #BCorp, which is why the doors at WeTransfer are always open for anyone who wants to learn how we do things. Join the movement that is working towards a brighter future and a global economic system that benefits all people and the planet.
Get #BehindtheB!
If you’d like to know more about how we’re doing, please check out our very first annual Responsible Business Report.