Slide

High-Level Overview

Slide is a modern, security-first Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery (BCDR) platform built exclusively for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), offering cloud-based backup, virtualization, and recovery tools with end-to-end encryption.[2][3] Founded by industry veterans from Datto, it addresses outdated legacy solutions by providing a clean-room, high-performance platform with intuitive interfaces, NVMe SSD appliances like the Slide Z1, and dedicated private cloud infrastructure for speed, reliability, and scalability.[2][3] Slide serves MSPs protecting client data, solving pain points like slow performance, technical debt, restrictive pricing, and security gaps in traditional BCDR tools, while enabling efficient operations across backups, file recovery, and disaster scenarios.[2][3] Recently available in Canada, it demonstrates growth momentum through targeted market expansion backed by investors like Base10 Partners.[1][3]

(Note: Other entities named "Slide," such as a defunct social ordering platform from 2021 or an insurance firm, do not match the active technology company profile here.[1][4])

Origin Story

Slide emerged from founders Austin McChord (Datto founder and former CEO) and Michael Fass (former Datto General Counsel & Chief People Officer), who identified a critical gap in the BCDR market: legacy solutions built on outdated technology hindering MSP efficiency.[2][3] McChord bootstrapped Datto from his parents' basement as a college student, growing it into the leading MSP-focused cloud software provider that revolutionized the industry from break-fix to recurring revenue models.[2] Leveraging their deep expertise in backup, recovery, and cybersecurity, they built Slide from scratch in a clean-room codebase, free of legacy debt, starting around 2023.[2][6] Key early traction includes product leadership from Sergio Espinosa (ex-Datto and Syncro MSP) and board support from Base10's Rexhi Dollaku, with $4.7M raised in an unattributed round to fuel development.[2][6] Pivotal moments include launching the high-performance Slide Z1 appliance and expanding to Canada, positioning it as the next-generation MSP BCDR leader.[3]

Core Differentiators

• Modern, Zero-Legacy Architecture: Built from the ground up with NVMe SSD tech in a compact Z1 appliance and dedicated private cloud, delivering superior read/write speeds over traditional HDDs, no moving parts for less downtime, and scalability without public cloud compromises.[3]
• Security-First Design: End-to-end encryption at no extra cost, plus a focus on cybersecurity from Datto alumni, ensuring MSPs protect client data reliably in a threat-heavy landscape.[2][3]
• MSP-Centric Simplicity and Performance: Intuitive cloud interface consolidates backups, virtualization, and recovery in few clicks; cost-effective pricing rejects restrictive legacy models, emphasizing speed, ease, and efficiency for daily operations.[2][3]
• Proven Team and Ecosystem: Led by Datto veterans with MSP channel expertise; strong investor backing from Base10 Partners enhances network and growth support.[1][2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Slide rides the surging demand for modern BCDR amid escalating cyber threats, ransomware, and data sovereignty needs, where MSPs manage 99% of SMB cybersecurity but struggle with antiquated tools.[2][3] Timing is ideal as the MSP market shifts to proactive, recurring revenue models—echoing Datto's transformation—fueled by hybrid work, cloud adoption, and regulations like GDPR/CCPA demanding robust recovery.[2] Market forces favor Slide: NVMe/hardware advances enable 10x+ performance gains, while private cloud avoids shared infrastructure risks; it influences the ecosystem by empowering MSPs to deliver faster RTO/RPO (recovery time/point objectives), reducing client downtime costs estimated at $9K/minute industry-wide.[3] By targeting underserved MSP gaps, Slide accelerates the channel's evolution toward AI-integrated, resilient IT services.

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Slide is poised to dominate MSP BCDR with its Datto-like trajectory, expanding via Canada entry and potential global scaling through $4.7M+ funding for product iteration and partnerships.[1][3][6] Trends like AI-driven threat detection, edge computing, and zero-trust security will shape its path, enabling predictive recovery and automated failover. Influence may evolve by acquiring MSP mindshare, spawning an ecosystem of integrations, and inspiring legacy vendors to modernize—cementing Slide as the security-first backbone for the next 20 years of MSP growth, much like its founders did before.[2][3]