Route-planning app Komoot has been acquired by Italian tech firm Bending Spoons, with sources close to the matter expecting “significant cutbacks” to Komoot’s workforce.
Bending Spoons’ portfolio includes Evernote, Meetup, and WeTransfer, and is claimed to be used by more than 300 million users monthly. Komoot has 45 million users.
The news follows this month’s announcement that new Komoot users would face a monthly fee to send routes to devices.
Uncertain future for staff and sponsorships
Komoot employs around 150 people, most of whom work remotely. Around 25 are based in the UK.
A report published on Sportive suggests job losses are expected after a short transition phase as Bending Spoons evaluates the business.
The company is well-known in the outdoors industry for fostering a family-like ethos. The report says employees with decades of experience at the company were “totally blindsided” by the announcement.
In a LinkedIn post, insurance provider Bikmo’s chief growth officer Ben Thompson described Bending Spoons as “renowned [for] taking businesses and stripping the teams out”, adding that “a significant number of Komoot staff will be made redundant almost immediately”.
The acquisition also casts doubt over Komoot’s sponsorships of popular cycling events, including the Komoot Women’s Rally series.
What does this mean for users?
At the time of writing, Komoot’s core offering remains free, with additional features such as offline maps and advanced route planning available via one-time purchases or a Premium subscription.
It’s unclear whether Bending Spoons will alter this model, but given its past work scaling platforms, change is likely.
Komoot’s CEO and co-founder Markus Hallermann said of the acquisition: “We’ve built Komoot from the ground up and grown it to 45 million users, making it Europe’s leading outdoor platform.
“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, Bending Spoons’ CEO, echoed this sentiment, highlighting Komoot’s “impressive achievements” and expressing confidence in its future growth.
