By Guest: Frank Karlitschek (LinkedIn)
Company: Nextcloud
Show Name: The Source, Data Sovereignty
Topic: Open Source
When Frank Karlitschek first created Nextcloud, it started as a simple open source file-sharing platform. Today, it has grown into one of the most comprehensive collaboration suites in the world — and it’s 100% open source. In this clip from his conversation with Swapnil Bhartiya on TFiR, Karlitschek explains how Nextcloud evolved beyond file storage to include chat, video conferencing, email, calendar, office editing, and project management — all tightly integrated to deliver a seamless collaboration experience.
Unlike Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, Nextcloud gives users full control over their data. Organizations can host it on their own servers or trusted infrastructure, maintaining privacy and compliance while benefiting from modern, cloud-like functionality. “You can use all the rich collaboration features with your colleagues and partners — but you don’t have to give your data to the cloud,” Karlitschek says.
This approach resonates strongly in a time when data sovereignty has become a geopolitical issue. Governments, universities, and enterprises around the world are turning to Nextcloud to ensure security, transparency, and independence from proprietary cloud vendors.
Karlitschek also emphasizes the importance of integration — not just providing tools, but unifying them. Nextcloud Talk, their latest release, brings together messaging, video calls, calendars, and document collaboration into one experience, mirroring the convenience of proprietary platforms without compromising freedom.
Nextcloud’s mission reflects a broader trend in enterprise technology — a shift toward open, federated, privacy-centric infrastructure. It’s not just about software, but about control, trust, and long-term sustainability.
