Start-Up Profile: Morro Systems …

Company
Morro Systems, Inc. (DBA Morro Data)

HQ
Fremont, CA

Founded in
2013

Financial funding
VCs funded but amount not revealed

Main executives

• Paul Tien, founder and CEO: Former VP/GM of Netgear storage business unit, founder and CEO of Infrant Technologies and ReadyNAS brand of products (acquired by Netgear in 2007), also formerly VP enginering at ESS Technology
• Michael Clegg, COO since 3 months: Was EVP of Amino Communications, former VP/GM of Netgear service provider business unit.

Number of employees
Less than 50

Technology
Cache and Sync, xCache, CacheDrive with cluster architecture, Morro Global File System, Cloud Object Store, LAP-Local Aware Permission management

Products
Morro Data is a cached cloud storage-as-a-service that provides a single namespace global file storage with accelerated, secure access and sharing for SMBs and distributed enterprises. Files are cached locally and synced globally. It enables users to access digital content across multiple locations within the company or share with external partners, with simplicity, performance and manageability.

Map a drive to any PC or Mac to enable users to drag-and-drop files to  Morro Cloud via the CacheDrive. Sync, share and transfer files across sites,  into cloud and between business partners with Cached Cloud on LAN  performance.

Morro Cache Drive G40

The Morro Data solution includes:

• CacheDrive G40 or Morro CacheDrive G80 with de-dupe, compression, file versioning, AES 256-bit encryption, SSL
• Cache expansion unit – CX2, adding 2TB of cache with 2.5-inch HDD ($499)
• Cloud storage based on AWS S3 ($49/gateway/month with 1TB for 2 to 4 gateways, $79/gateway/month with 1TB for 5 to 11 gateways)
• Centralized Cloud Manager for management of shares and user permissions

Released date
Live from last March 17 and just announced (see today’s press release)

Price range
CacheDrive G40: $499 with 1TB 2.5-inch HDD
CacheDrive G80: $899
Data Subscription service starting at $39/month included 1TB of cloud storage, extra storage at $39/TB/month

Partners
Intel, Amazon AWS, axle Video

Applications

• cache accelerated cloud file access and sharing
• cached cloud storage as primary storage
• storage archive to cloud
• multi-site file sync and share
• large file transfer
• cross-location collaboration
• centralized management global file storage for remote offices and branch offices
  optimize internet bandwidth and WAN acceleration to cloud storage

Target market
SMB, distributed enterprise, ROBO, media and entertainment, design houses, biotech, service bureaus needing to transfer large files

Competitors
Include Dropbox, OneDrive, SugarSync,  Egnyte, Panzura, Nasuni, Aspera