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Sepaton developed advanced enterprise data protection appliances that delivered high-performance, disk-based backup and recovery solutions. Its core offering, which included Virtual Tape Library (VTL) systems, utilized a unique file system approach to significantly accelerate backup and restore operations compared to traditional tape-based methods. This technology was designed to enhance efficiency and reliability for large organizational data management.
The company was founded in 1999 as SANgate Systems, Inc., later rebranding to Sepaton in 2003, with its headquarters located in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The genesis of the company stemmed from the critical insight that conventional tape backup systems were increasingly inadequate for the growing demands of enterprise data, particularly regarding the speed and reliability of data recovery. The name Sepaton, which spells "no tapes" backward, directly reflected this founding principle.
Sepaton primarily served enterprise and government IT organizations facing challenges with slow backup and recovery processes. The company’s vision centered on providing robust, scalable platforms that offered immediate value by streamlining data protection and ensuring rapid data accessibility. It aimed to capitalize on the industry's shift towards more efficient, disk-centric storage solutions for long-term data integrity and business continuity.
Sepaton has raised $89.0M across 7 funding rounds.
Sepaton has raised $89.0M in total across 7 funding rounds.
Sepaton is a technology company specializing in enterprise data protection solutions, offering hardware and software for high-speed backups, deduplication, virtual tape libraries (VTL), and remote replication.[1][2][3] It serves large enterprises and government IT organizations managing massive data volumes, solving critical challenges like tight backup windows, rapid recovery from failures, and reducing downtime through its patented scale-out DeltaScale architecture and ContentAware technology.[2][3] Previously independent with reported revenue of $10M–$50M, Sepaton was acquired by Hitachi Data Systems, rebranding its flagship as the Hitachi Protection Platform for enhanced scalability and integration.[4]
The company emphasized linear performance scaling, advanced automation, and seamless compatibility with leading backup software, earning recognition like Gartner's "Cool Vendor" for innovative disk-to-disk backup tech that minimizes disruptions.[3][5]
Sepaton, originally founded as SANgate Systems, Inc., rebranded to Sepaton in 2003 to focus on advanced data protection.[1] Key innovators include Dr. Alex W., a former IBM Research Division engineer with 11 years of experience, over 15 patents in storage and data management, and the title of IBM Master Inventor; and Kevin S., Senior VP of Engineering with 25 years leading developments in clustered file systems, replication, and high-performance databases.[1]
The idea emerged from addressing limitations in traditional tape backups, combining disk-to-disk benefits with high I/O performance via proprietary Dynamic Disk File System (DFS) and ContentAware architecture for superior VTL solutions.[3] Early traction included a $22M funding round highlighting its unique tech for faster backups, and Gartner acclaim as a "Cool Vendor" for impactful disk-based recovery innovations.[5][6]
Sepaton rides the trend of exploding enterprise data growth, where traditional backups fail under tight recovery time objectives (RTOs) and rising compliance demands.[2][3] Its timing aligned with the shift to disk-based, virtualized protection in the mid-2000s, enabling "green data centers" via efficiency gains in power, space, and cost—critical amid virtualization and big data surges.[1][3]
Market forces like multivendor storage complexity and cyber threats favored its automated, high-performance VTLs, influencing ecosystems through Hitachi's global reach for cross-selling and partnerships (e.g., Thales for encryption).[2][4] It accelerated adoption of deduplication and scale-out backups, reducing IT overhead and setting benchmarks for disaster recovery in regulated sectors.[1][5]
Post-Hitachi acquisition, Sepaton's tech evolves within the Hitachi Protection Platform, poised for AI-driven data explosion and hybrid cloud backups with even faster, secure scaling.[4] Trends like edge computing and zero-trust security will amplify demand for its deduplication and replication strengths, potentially expanding via Hitachi's partnerships into new verticals.[2][4]
Its influence may grow through embedded innovations in broader storage stacks, solidifying enterprise data protection leadership—echoing its origins as a disruptive "Cool Vendor" now amplified globally.[5]
Sepaton has raised $89.0M in total across 7 funding rounds.
Sepaton's investors include Harrison Metal, ICONIQ Capital, Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP), Next Play Ventures, Owl Rock Capital Partners, True Ventures, Brad Garlinghouse, Erik Blachford.
Sepaton has raised $89.0M across 7 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $2.0M Venture Round in September 2013.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2013 | $2.0M Venture Round | Harrison Metal, ICONIQ Capital, Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP), Next Play Ventures, Owl Rock Capital Partners, True Ventures, Brad Garlinghouse, Erik Blachford | |
| Apr 1, 2009 | $16.0M Series F | Harrison Metal, ICONIQ Capital, Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP), Next Play Ventures, Owl Rock Capital Partners, True Ventures, Brad Garlinghouse, Erik Blachford | |
| Apr 1, 2007 | $22.0M Series E | Harrison Metal, ICONIQ Capital, Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP), Next Play Ventures, Owl Rock Capital Partners, True Ventures, Brad Garlinghouse, Erik Blachford | |
| Mar 1, 2004 | $24.0M Series D | Harrison Metal, ICONIQ Capital, Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP), Next Play Ventures, Owl Rock Capital Partners, True Ventures, Brad Garlinghouse, Erik Blachford | |
| Dec 1, 2001 | $7.0M Series C | Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP) | |
| May 1, 2001 | $10.0M Series B | Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP) | |
| May 1, 2000 | $8.0M Series A | Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP) |
