Komoot users may be in for major changes after the navigation app was taken over by a tech firm with a history of slashing staff.
Popular with trail runners and hikers, the route-plotting platform specializes in crafting both short-distance and multi-day routes, which you can follow along using GPS and pin with pictures.
It's been acquired by Italian tech company Bending Spoons, which has a history of making mass job cuts in the companies it buys. Its plans for the platform are currently unclear.
Last year Bending Spoons bought WeTransfer and laid off 75% of its workforce. And in 2023 it acquired Evernote and made all of its staff redundant, absorbing the app's operations into its own teams.
A report from Sportive.com claims that Komoot's 150 staff have been told to expect 'big cuts' following the takeover. This has raised fears that significant staff losses could limit Komoot's wide range of mapping services and change the user experience.
The same report claims that Komoot could also pull its sponsorship of major adventure sports events like the Komoot Women's Rally Series and the Le Pilgrimage trail running and mountain biking events.
In a press release, Komoot CEO and co-founder Markus Hallermann said: "For 17 years, we have been on a mission to make outdoor adventures accessible to all.
"Komoot inspires millions to explore the outdoors, improving both physical and mental well-being, and continues to grow worldwide."
Hallermann co-founded the company as a student and said that new ownership will benefit the Komoot community.
"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."
The move comes just a few weeks after Komoot opted to extend its paywall and limit the services users could get without a subscription.
As of last month, new users must pay an annual subscription of $59.99 (£59.99) to sync their routes to outside GPS watches and trackers.
Komoot isn't entirely behind a paywall. You can explore one free region to test out its various features. After that, you can buy new regions for $3.99 (£3.99) each, buy a region bundle and unlock several regions for $8.99 (£8.99), or unlock all world maps offline for $29.99 (£29.99).
You'll now need Komoot Premium to sync maps to your GPS devices. It also includes other features like sport-specific maps and up-to-date weather information.
For more on navigation and route-plotting, check out our expert guide to the best navigation apps.
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