A bold new chapter begins for Axcient, as ConnectWise acquires Axcient and SkyKick! We've been on a 20+ year journey with our team and our loyal IT channel partners. While change has been constant and growth brings challenges, each new chapter has brought accelerated innovation and our ability to chase our vision to #curedataloss. ConnectWise shares our intense focus to help IT solution providers protect their business clients and to thrive as a business, and we share a similar origin story:
ConnectWise was founded in 1982 as an IT solution provider, and became a technology provider when they launched their first PSA software product in 1995, and grew exponentially from there through product innovation, acquisitions, and a focus on values, people, and community.
We have our origins in SafeNET Inc, an IT solution provider founded by John Williams and Bill Gross in the Atlanta area in the 90s, where I was first mentored by John. In 2002, eFolder was founded by John and Bill, and I joined as the technical co-founder a few years later. With other co-founders and early team members including George Welborn, Jan Spring, John Mitchell, Ted Hulsy and so many others, we grew from a boutique online backup provider to a market leader for full business continuity and ransomware resiliency, focused exclusively on serving IT solution providers.
Our wonderful partners at K1 Investment Management believed in our vision (with special thanks to Taylor Beaupain, Dan Ghammachi, and Neil Malik and the many others on the K1 team), supporting us in our exponential organic growth and to acquire Anchor, Cloudfinder, Replibit, and Axcient. They've been tremendous business partners over 11 years as we built the x360 platform that is disrupting the market today. We went through some very challenging times at the mid-point, and they supported us 110%.
ConnectWise and Axcient both had their roots as an IT solution provider. Both companies innovated to become software and technology companies to serve the needs of IT solution providers. Both companies grew through innovation and acquisitions, as well as a focus on values, people, and community. Both believe in the power and potential of IT solution providers to help SMBs thrive.
Despite our past success and current market momentum, the best is yet to come. More on that another time.
This is a time for thanks:
- Thanks to our loyal MSP partners who have worked with us to #curedataloss (software engineering is an act of empathy)
- Thanks to John Williams who had the vision for this company and was a close personal mentor and friend (may he rest in peace)
- Thanks to our exceptional past and present team members over all the years (and their patient family and friends!), to make this next chapter possible
- Thanks to our investment partner K1 Investment Management with their passion and persistence to make this all possible.
- Thanks to the warm welcome from the ConnectWise team and for their bold investment and commitment
Exciting news! Axcient is embarking on a new journey to fulfill our vision of curing data loss. Through a partnership with ConnectWise and SkyKick, we are creating an industry-leading data protection solution on a purpose-built platform for MSPs. This merger brings together exceptional talent, advanced technology, and a shared dedication to partner success. The result? Unparalleled flexibility, operational efficiency, and data security for our partners.
For more details, check out our full announcement and Open Letter to Partners outlining our commitments to MSPs and their clients. https://bit.ly/3XcHgju
