Techlore Talks Nextcloud CEO: Why Self-Hosting Beats Big Tech Every Time
Aug 7, 2025
Frank Karlitschek, CEO and founder of Nextcloud, brings over 25 years of open-source expertise to the table. He shares insights on the journey from OwnCloud to Nextcloud and why self-hosting enhances user privacy in a world dominated by Big Tech. The discussion highlights Nextcloud Hub 10's cutting-edge end-to-end encryption features and the integration of AI while navigating the challenges of usability and community support. Discover how digital sovereignty empowers users to regain control over their data and the fine balance between ethics and profit in tech.
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From Hobby Project To Nextcloud Reboot
- Frank built OwnCloud as a hobby and presented version 1.0 at a KDE keynote in 2010, which sparked community contributions.
- After company issues and investor mistakes, he and 12 core people rebooted as Nextcloud to do open source differently.
Profit Without Outside Investors
- Nextcloud is a for-profit company without external investors to prioritize sustainability over exits.
- Revenue funds developers and product improvements while keeping the project fully open source.
When To Choose Enterprise Builds
- Nextcloud's enterprise and community editions ship the same features; enterprise adds stability and long-term support.
- Pay for support, certifications, and direct developer access only if you need mission-critical assurances.