What is Drobo?
Drobo was a manufacturer specializing in a range of external storage devices for computers, encompassing Direct-Attached Storage (DAS), Storage Area Network (SAN), and Network-Attached Storage (NAS) appliances. These devices were designed for ease of use, allowing for the installation and removal of hard disk drives without data migration, thereby enabling seamless capacity expansion and robust data protection against drive failure. The company, which rebranded from Data Robotics in 2011 to leverage the product line's familiarity, faced significant supply chain challenges and ultimately ceased operations, with support and products becoming unavailable as of January 27th, 2023. Despite its operational cessation, the legacy of Drobo's innovative approach to storage management remains.
How much funding has Drobo raised?
Drobo has raised a total of $57.8M across 8 funding rounds:
Series B
$12M
Series C
$10M
Series D
$15M
Series E
$10M
Debt
$4M
Debt
$350K
Debt
$416K
Series B (2006): $12M led by Greylock Partners, Sutter Hill Ventures, and RRE Ventures
Series C (2007): $10M, investors not publicly disclosed
Series D (2008): $15M featuring Sutter Hill Ventures, RRE Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, and Greylock Partners
Series E (2009): $10M backed by Focus Ventures, Sutter Hill Ventures, RRE Ventures, and Greylock Partners
Debt (2015): $4M with participation from East West Bank
Debt (2020): $350K led by PPP
Debt (2021): $416K supported by PPP
Key Investors in Drobo
Sutter Hill Ventures
Sutter Hill Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on financing technology-based startups, leveraging extensive operating and venture capital experience to assist entrepreneurs in building market-leading companies.
RRE Ventures
RRE Ventures is a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting founders at critical stages of their business journey, investing in a diverse portfolio of startups with a focus on long-term partnerships.
Greylock Partners
Greylock Partners is a venture capital firm that supports companies at all stages with the goal of developing global category leaders, adopting a unique approach to help companies scale.
What's next for Drobo?
Given Drobo's operational cessation and the transition to a self-service support model, the concept of 'next steps' in terms of company growth or further investment is not applicable in the traditional sense. The company's strategic direction has concluded, with its knowledge base and documentation remaining accessible for existing users. The significant funding history, however, reflects a period of substantial investment and ambition in the data storage industry, positioning Drobo as a notable entity in the evolution of consumer and small business storage solutions.
See full Drobo company page
