Apple Hires Fired Cofounder After Trying to Buy Him Like He’s a Fancy iPhone App
KEY POINTS
- •Sebastiaan de With, Lux Optics cofounder, joined Apple in late January after previous acquisition talks broke down last summer.
- •Apple initially tried to buy Halide, the popular iPhone photography app, but negotiations failed and de With was subsequently fired.
- •A lawsuit filed by cofounder Ben Sandofsky in Santa Cruz alleges de With’s firing involved undisclosed financial issues.
In a tale as subtle as a flying iPhone update, Halide cofounder Sebastiaan de With scored a late January gig at Apple after they tried — and spectacularly failed — to buy his photography app company, Lux Optics, last summer. The app, beloved for its pro-level iPhone snapping mojo, turns out to be so tasty, Apple didn’t just poach de With, they allegedly got him fired first. According to a lawsuit filed by cofounder Ben Sandofsky in Santa Cruz, de With's exit was due to 'financial misc...' – a phrase as enlightening as Apple’s mysteriously vague product launch dates. Meanwhile, Apple watches and plans, probably chuckling quietly backstage as they watch startup drama unfold.
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(1 of 3)Apple’s talent strategy: Try to buy the app, fail, then fire your cofounder so you can just hire him anyway. Innovation at its finest.
Imagine pitching Apple: 'Hey, wanna buy my app?' then getting fired before your new bus pass to Cupertino arrives. Classic startup romance.
Apple tried to acquire Halide, failed, then got their cofounder fired before hiring him. Who needs HR when you have drama?
Source: Theverge | Published: 3/21/2026 | Author: Terrence O’Brien
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