Fabian Thylmann

Fabian Thylmann (born 5 June 1978) is a German businessman who was the founder and managing partner of the Internet pornography conglomerate Manwin (now Aylo).

His breakthrough came in the late 1990s when he developed software called NATS (Next-generation Affiliate Tracking Software), which enabled website operators to track users' clicks on advertisements and links so that they could be paid commission.

Thylmann used the money he made with NATS to buy various Internet pornography companies, and in March 2010, he established Manwin by acquiring the companies Mensef and Interhub.

Manwin bought Pornhub, YouPorn, RedTube, Brazzers, Twistys.com, Mofos and other pornography websites.

In December 2012, Thylmann was extradited from Belgium to Germany on suspicion of tax evasion.

He did not contest the extradition order, although he reportedly denied avoiding paying tax.

In October 2013, he sold his stake in the company, which was at the time the largest pornography operator in the world.

He was born in Aachen.

He started computer programming when he was 17.

In October 2013, Thylmann stepped down and sold Manwin for €73 million, for undisclosed reasons.

Upon the sale of Manwin, Thylmann wrote in a letter to employees:

In April 2015, Thylmann was indicted by the Cologne, Germany federal prosecutor on tax evasion charges.

The charges were dropped when he paid 5 million euros but he still faces a suspended sentence in another case.

According to a 2016 interview with EU-Startups, Thylmann claimed that he didn't miss the "adrenaline" and responsibilities that came with running Manwin, stating that he was working on "fun relaxing projects".