Backblaze has introduced Flamethrower, a new startup program designed to assist early-stage companies by providing predictable cloud storage, meaningful credits, and direct human support. The initiative aims to help founders build and scale their products without the friction of complex or unpredictable infrastructure costs. It focuses on delivering simple, reliable cloud object storage to help teams reach product-market fit more efficiently.
Program Focus and Target Audience
• Target Audience: The program is specifically built for founders and small teams developing data-heavy products.
• Key Industries: It is tailored for companies in sectors such as AI and machine learning, media, gaming, and SaaS applications.
• Supported Workloads: The infrastructure supports common startup needs, including AI/ML training data, media and gaming assets, fast-growing SaaS platforms, as well as backup, archiving, and disaster recovery.
Key Program Features
• Cloud Storage Credits: Qualifying startups receive cloud storage credits for use with Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage.
• Expert Access: Participants get direct access to Backblaze experts who understand startup architectures and real-world production environments.
• Predictable Infrastructure: The program offers simple, S3 compatible cloud object storage with predictable pricing to help startups avoid unexpected costs as they scale.
• Founder-First Approach: Emphasizing real production infrastructure and practical support, the program is designed to address the specific challenges faced by early-stage teams.
Application and Engagement Process
• Human-Reviewed Applications: Every application is reviewed by a person, not an automated system.
• Respect for Founder Time: The process is intentionally designed to be efficient, with no mandatory demos or surprise sales motions.
• No-Pressure Conversion: Participants are not pressured to convert to paid plans before they are ready, allowing them to scale on their own terms.
• Flexible Engagement: Startups can engage with the Backblaze team as needed while they grow their business.
The Backblaze Flamethrower program is currently available, with the stated goal of making data storage a straightforward and enabling part of a startup's technology stack. Eligible startups interested in the program can find more details and submit an application at backblaze.com/startups.