Staff at the route-planning app komoot have been warned that "deep cuts" are likely following the sale of the company to Italian tech firm Bending Spoons.
The acquisition of komoot was announced today, Businesswire reports - just hours after employees were informed via remote meeting at 2:30pm.
Komoot, which was established 17 years ago and currently boasts some 45 million users, has steadily gained popularity among cyclists as a rival to apps like Strava, with a focus on creating and sharing routes rather than competing for segments.
The German firm employs approximately 150 people - the majority of them remote workers - of which 25 or so are believed to be UK based.
A source close to komoot reports that even longstanding employees with more than a decade's service were "totally blindsided" by the announcement. The company has always promoted a family ethos among its geographically spread team members, with regular staff get-togethers that typically included multi-day hikes or cycle rides in addition to work meetings.
However, the jobs of most if not all of komoot's staff are now understood to be at risk following a short transition phase as Bending Spoons assess their new acquisition.
The new owners are also likely to review komoot's sponsorship deals with a number of cycling events, such as Le Pilgrimage Gravel and the komoot Women's Rally series.
The implications for komoot's users are unclear at this point. A basic version of komoot is currently offered free of charge, with additional features such as regional and world maps, and enhanced route planning and functionality available as one-time purchases or via a Premium subscription.
Komoot becomes the latest addition to a Spoon Benders portfolio which includes Remini, Meetup, Evernote and file-sharing platform WeTransfer. Its products are currently used by more than 300 million people each month.
Markus Hallermann, komoot's CEO and co-founder, said of the acquisition: "For 17 years, we have been on a mission to make outdoor adventures accessible to all. From humble beginnings in our student rooms, we've built komoot from the ground up and grown it to 45 million users, making it Europe's leading outdoor platform.
"Komoot inspires millions to explore the outdoors, improving both physical and mental well-being, and continues to grow worldwide. However, what got us here won't take us to the next level. Scaling a company requires a different mindset and skill set than building one. That's why we believe Bending Spoons, with its unique expertise in driving innovation and scaling platforms, is the perfect partner to lead komoot into the future."
Luca Ferrari, the Bending Spoons CEO and co-founder, said: "We're deeply impressed by komoot's achievements over the past seventeen years, and are enthusiastic about its future growth potential. By leveraging the Bending Spoons expertise and platform technologies, we're confident we can help komoot go from strength to strength for many years to come."
0 Comments