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§ Private Profile · 151 Rue Saint-Denis Paris, Paris 75002, FR
Shadow is a technology company.
Shadow delivers a robust cloud computing service, providing users with a complete Windows PC streamed directly from the cloud. This offering enables access to demanding PC games and software applications across a multitude of devices, including Macs, smartphones, and tablets, effectively eliminating local hardware constraints. Its core technical approach involves streaming a high-performance virtual machine, offering full mod support, broad game compatibility, and ultra-fast bandwidth.
The company was founded in 2015 by Emmanuel Freund, Stéphane Héliot, and Asher Kagan-Criou, who established the startup Blade to pioneer a cloud-based computing experience. Their foundational insight was to offer an entire virtualized PC rather than a restricted cloud gaming library, allowing users unparalleled freedom to install any Windows application or game. Shadow was later acquired in 2021 by Octave Klaba, the founder of OVHcloud, following Blade’s financial restructuring.
Shadow primarily serves individuals seeking to run high-performance applications and games without the need for expensive physical hardware upgrades, catering to those desiring flexibility and accessibility. The company’s vision extends beyond gaming, positioning itself as a comprehensive cloud computing alternative. It strives to liberate users from traditional hardware cycles and maintenance, aiming to provide a powerful, accessible, and versatile virtual desktop environment for a wide range of computing needs.
Shadow has raised $243.0M across 4 funding rounds.
Shadow has raised $243.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Shadow has raised $243.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $17.0M Blade Group (Shadow) - Series B in March 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2024 | $17M Series B | — | Quassar Capital | Announced |
| Dec 7, 2023 | $9M Seed | Caitlin Pintavorn | Coinbase Ventures, Electric Capital, Ethereum Foundation, Flashbots, Uniswap Labs Ventures | Announced |
| Mar 1, 2021 | $160M Series U | — | Daphni, Kima Ventures, Thibaud Elziere | Announced |
| Jun 1, 2017 | $57M Series A | — | Michael Benabou, Nopporn Suppipat, Pierre Kosciusko Morizet | Announced |
Shadow has raised $243.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Shadow's investors include Quassar Capital, Caitlin Pintavorn, Coinbase Ventures, Electric Capital, Ethereum Foundation, Flashbots, Uniswap Labs Ventures, Daphni, Kima Ventures, Thibaud Elziere, Michael Benabou, Nopporn Suppipat.
Shadow (shadow.tech) is a French cloud computing company, originally founded as Blade, that provides remote access to high-performance Windows PCs via the cloud. It serves gamers, creatives, and businesses by delivering full PC infrastructure—not just games—allowing users to run demanding applications without expensive local hardware.[1][3] The service solves the problem of hardware barriers by democratizing access to powerful computing, with products like Shadow PC for personal use, Shadow Drive for secure storage, and Shadow PC Pro for professional cloud workspaces; growth has been strong, from 70,000 users in 2019 to over 100,000 active users by late 2020, alongside expansions like upgraded GPUs and new tiers in 2022.[1][3]
Acquired in 2021 by Octave Klaba, founder of OVHcloud, Shadow has evolved from a cloud-gaming pioneer launched in 2016 into a broader cloud platform, emphasizing European-based servers, encryption, and custom business solutions.[1][3]
Shadow was founded in 2015 by Emmanuel Freund, Stéphane Héliot, and Asher Kagan-Criou as Blade, a startup driven by the founders' passion for technology and gaming. They aimed to create a cloud-gaming service that evolved into a full remote PC solution, launching officially in France in 2016 with a small team and community support that fueled early success.[1][3]
The company raised significant funding: €3 million in 2016, €10 million later that year, €51 million in 2017, and €30 million in 2019 amid competition from Google Stadia. Leadership shifted in 2020 with Mike Fischer as CEO and Jean-Baptiste Kempf (VLC contributor) as CTO. In 2021, Octave Klaba acquired it amid service pauses due to bankruptcy rumors, renewing subscriptions and rebranding with a new logo. Pivotal moments include the 2022 launches of Shadow Drive (with Nextcloud) and Shadow PC Pro, marking expansion beyond gaming.[1][3]
Shadow stands out in cloud computing through these key strengths:
Shadow rides the cloud gaming and computing democratization trend, accelerated by 5G, remote work, and hardware shortages post-2020. Its timing capitalized on Stadia's hype (2019 funding) and post-pandemic demand for flexible tech, positioning it against hyperscalers by offering unrestricted PC access rather than siloed streaming.[1][3]
Market forces like rising GPU costs and sustainability pushes favor Shadow's model, reducing e-waste via shared cloud resources. It influences the ecosystem by pioneering non-gaming cloud PCs, partnering with open-source like Nextcloud, and serving as OVHcloud's edge in consumer/business cloud, challenging US giants with EU-compliant infrastructure.[1][3]
Shadow is poised to expand its Shadow PC Pro and Drive offerings, targeting enterprises with flexible, secure cloud workspaces amid hybrid work trends. Upcoming trends like AI-accelerated rendering and edge computing will amplify its high-performance edge, potentially growing user base through OVHcloud's infrastructure.[3]
Its influence may evolve by deepening EU market penetration and custom B2B projects, solidifying cloud as the equalizer for tech access—from gamers ditching rigs to businesses slashing CapEx—echoing its founding promise to break hardware limits.[1][3]