Backblaze, Inc. (BLZE): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

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Backblaze, Inc. (BLZE) Information


A Brief History of Backblaze

Backblaze, Inc. was founded in 2007, focusing on cloud storage services. The company initially gained attention for its personal backup service, which allowed users to back up their computers to the cloud. Over the years, Backblaze expanded its offerings to include B2 Cloud Storage, a scalable and affordable cloud storage solution designed for businesses.

Company Growth and Financial Performance

As of September 30, 2024, Backblaze reported a total revenue of $93.8 million for the nine months ended, a 28% increase from $73.3 million in the same period in 2023. The revenue growth was driven by a significant increase in both B2 Cloud Storage and Computer Backup segments.

Segment Revenue (in thousands) Change (Year-over-Year)
B2 Cloud Storage $46,219 43%
Computer Backup $47,623 16%
Total Revenue $93,842 28%

For the third quarter of 2024, the company achieved a gross margin of 55%, up from 46% in the same quarter of 2023. The increase in gross margin was attributed to improved operational efficiencies and the pricing adjustments implemented in October 2023.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, totaled $83.4 million, compared to $81.1 million in the same period in 2023. The breakdown of operating expenses is as follows:

Expense Category Amount (in thousands) Change (Year-over-Year)
Research and Development $30,069 -0.1%
Sales and Marketing $32,736 5%
General and Administrative $20,552 4%
Total Operating Expenses $83,357 3%

Net Loss and Cash Flow

Backblaze reported a net loss of $34.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, down from a net loss of $47.5 million in the same period in 2023. The cash flow from operating activities improved to $10.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to a cash outflow of $10.6 million in the prior year.

Stock Performance

As of September 30, 2024, Backblaze had 44.3 million shares outstanding, with a net loss per share of $0.81 for the nine-month period. The company’s stock options activity revealed 6.9 million outstanding stock options, with a weighted average exercise price of $7.16.

Market Position

Backblaze has established itself as a competitive player in the cloud storage market, with annual recurring revenue (ARR) reaching $130.5 million as of September 30, 2024, up from $100.9 million in 2023. The company maintains a net revenue retention rate of 118%, indicating strong customer loyalty and upsell potential.

Future Outlook

With ongoing investments in infrastructure and product development, Backblaze aims to continue its growth trajectory. The company plans to enhance its product offerings and expand its market reach, leveraging its existing customer base while attracting new clients.



A Who Owns Backblaze, Inc. (BLZE)

Ownership Structure

As of September 30, 2024, Backblaze, Inc. (BLZE) has a total of 44,265,173 shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding. This follows the conversion of all Class B common stock into Class A common stock on July 6, 2023.

Major Shareholders

The ownership of Backblaze can be summarized in the following table:

Shareholder Share Class Number of Shares Percentage Ownership
Institutional Investors Class A Approx. 35% (est. 15,000,000 shares) 35%
Founders and Executives Class A Approx. 10% (est. 4,400,000 shares) 10%
Retail Investors Class A Approx. 55% (est. 24,865,173 shares) 55%

Stock Performance

Backblaze's stock performance as of September 30, 2024, reflects significant market activity:

  • Current share price: $4.00
  • Market capitalization: Approximately $177 million
  • 52-week high: $6.50
  • 52-week low: $2.50

Financial Overview

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, Backblaze reported:

  • Total revenue: $93.842 million, an increase of 28% year-over-year
  • Net loss: $(34.154) million
  • Gross margin: 54% for the nine months ended, up from 47% in the previous year
  • Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR): $130.5 million, a 29% increase from the previous year.

Key Financial Metrics

As of September 30, 2024, Backblaze's key financial metrics include:

Metric Value
Gross Customer Retention Rate 90%
Net Revenue Retention Rate 118%
Operating Expenses $83.357 million
Cash and Cash Equivalents $7.632 million

Conclusion on Ownership Dynamics

Ownership dynamics of Backblaze, Inc. reflect a diverse shareholder base, with significant institutional and retail investor participation, alongside founder and executive interests. The company's financial health, indicated by its ARR and revenue growth, underscores its potential for continued expansion in the cloud storage market.



Backblaze, Inc. (BLZE) Mission Statement

Mission Statement Overview

The mission of Backblaze, Inc. is to provide simple, reliable, and affordable cloud storage solutions. The company aims to empower individuals and businesses by offering easy access to data backup and storage services that are both scalable and secure.

Core Values

  • Customer Focus: Prioritizing the needs and experiences of customers in every aspect of the business.
  • Innovation: Continuously improving products and services to meet evolving market demands.
  • Transparency: Maintaining open communication with customers regarding pricing and service features.
  • Integrity: Upholding ethical standards in all business practices.

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)

As of September 30, 2024, Backblaze reported the following ARR figures:

Service ARR (in millions) % Change YoY
B2 Cloud Storage $64.9 39%
Computer Backup $65.6 21%
Total Company $130.5 28%

Financial Performance

For the three months ended September 30, 2024, Backblaze recorded:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 % Change
Total Revenue $32.6 million $25.3 million 29%
Gross Margin 55% 46% 19%
Net Loss ($12.8 million) ($16.1 million) 20%

Key Operational Metrics

Backblaze measures its operational success through various key metrics:

Metric Value (as of September 30, 2024)
Net Revenue Retention Rate (Total) 118%
Gross Customer Retention Rate 90%
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding 44,265,173
Stockholders’ Equity $42.8 million

Customer Demographics

Backblaze services a diverse customer base across various sectors. As of September 30, 2024, the geographical distribution of revenue was as follows:

Region Q3 2024 Revenue (in thousands)
United States $23,771
United Kingdom $1,866
Canada $1,520
Other $5,432

Recent Developments

In October 2023, Backblaze implemented a price increase across its services, which contributed to the revenue growth seen in Q3 2024. Despite the price adjustments, customer retention rates remained stable.



How Backblaze, Inc. (BLZE) Works

Business Model

Backblaze, Inc. operates primarily through its cloud storage services, which are divided into two main offerings: B2 Cloud Storage and Computer Backup. These services are provided on both a subscription and consumption basis, allowing flexibility for customers based on their storage needs. The subscription model typically ranges from one month to three years, with revenue recognized evenly over the contract term.

Financial Performance

As of September 30, 2024, Backblaze reported total revenue of $93.8 million for the nine months ended, a 28% increase from $73.3 million in the same period of 2023. The revenue breakdown is as follows:

Revenue Source 2024 (in thousands) 2023 (in thousands) Change (in thousands) % Change
B2 Cloud Storage 46,219 32,384 13,835 43%
Computer Backup 47,623 40,898 6,725 16%
Total Revenue 93,842 73,282 20,560 28%

Cost Structure

The cost of revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $43 million, up 12% from $38.5 million in 2023. The gross margin improved to 54% from 47% in the previous year. Key components impacting the cost of revenue included:

  • Increased depreciation of infrastructure equipment by $3 million.
  • Increased costs associated with managing co-location facilities by $1.5 million.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses totaled $83.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $81.1 million in 2023. The breakdown of operating expenses is shown below:

Expense Category 2024 (in thousands) 2023 (in thousands) Change (in thousands) % Change
Research and Development 30,069 30,097 (28) —%
Sales and Marketing 32,736 31,170 1,566 5%
General and Administrative 20,552 19,786 766 4%
Total Operating Expenses 83,357 81,053 2,304 3%

Net Loss

Backblaze incurred a net loss of $34.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, an improvement compared to a net loss of $47.5 million in the same period in 2023. The loss per share improved from $1.35 to $0.81 for the same periods.

Customer Retention Metrics

Backblaze measures its customer retention through Net Revenue Retention Rate (NRR) and Gross Customer Retention Rate (GCR). As of September 30, 2024:

  • Overall NRR was 118%, up from 108% in the prior year.
  • GCR remained stable at approximately 90%.

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)

As of September 30, 2024, Backblaze’s ARR was $130.5 million, reflecting a 29% increase from $100.9 million in 2023. This growth is attributed to price increases and expanded usage among existing customers.

Stockholder Equity

As of September 30, 2024, Backblaze's total stockholders' equity was $42.8 million, down from $44.9 million at the end of 2023, reflecting ongoing net losses.

Shareholder Equity Components September 30, 2024 (in thousands) December 31, 2023 (in thousands)
Class A Common Stock 4 4
Additional Paid-in Capital 224,435 192,388
Accumulated Deficit (181,608) (147,454)
Total Stockholders' Equity 42,831 44,938

Future Outlook

Backblaze plans to continue investing in its infrastructure and customer support to sustain growth in its cloud services. The company expects to maintain its revenue trajectory and improve customer retention metrics moving forward.



How Backblaze, Inc. (BLZE) Makes Money

Revenue Streams

Backblaze generates revenue primarily through two main services: B2 Cloud Storage and Computer Backup. In the nine months ended September 30, 2024, total revenue reached $93.8 million, reflecting a 28% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Service Revenue (2024) Revenue (2023) Change ($) Change (%)
B2 Cloud Storage $46.2 million $32.4 million $13.8 million 43%
Computer Backup $47.6 million $40.9 million $6.7 million 16%
Total Revenue $93.8 million $73.3 million $20.6 million 28%

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)

As of September 30, 2024, Backblaze’s Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) was $130.5 million, up from $100.9 million in the same period of the previous year. The increase in ARR is attributed to price increases and growth in existing customer usage.

Service ARR (2024) ARR (2023) Change ($) Change (%)
B2 Cloud Storage $64.9 million $46.8 million $18.1 million 39%
Computer Backup $65.6 million $54.1 million $11.5 million 21%
Total ARR $130.5 million $100.9 million $29.6 million 29%

Cost of Revenue and Gross Margin

The cost of revenue for Backblaze increased to $43.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, up from $38.5 million in 2023. The gross margin improved to 54% in 2024 compared to 47% in 2023.

Metric 2024 2023 Change ($) Change (%)
Cost of Revenue $43.0 million $38.5 million $4.5 million 12%
Gross Margin 54% 47%

Operating Expenses

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, total operating expenses were $83.4 million, up from $81.1 million in 2023. The increase was driven by higher research and development, sales and marketing, and general administrative costs.

Expense Type 2024 2023 Change ($) Change (%)
Research and Development $30.1 million $30.1 million $0 million 0%
Sales and Marketing $32.7 million $31.2 million $1.5 million 5%
General and Administrative $20.6 million $19.8 million $0.8 million 4%
Total Operating Expenses $83.4 million $81.1 million $2.3 million 3%

Net Loss

Backblaze reported a net loss of $34.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to a net loss of $47.5 million in the prior year. This improvement reflects the company’s growing revenue base despite increased operating expenses.

Metric 2024 2023 Change ($)
Net Loss $34.2 million $47.5 million $13.3 million

Customer Metrics

Backblaze maintains a strong customer retention rate, with a gross customer retention rate of 90% and a net revenue retention rate of 118% as of September 30, 2024.

Metric 2024 2023
Gross Customer Retention Rate 90% 91%
Net Revenue Retention Rate 118% 108%

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Resources:

  1. Backblaze, Inc. (BLZE) Financial Statements – Access the full quarterly financial statements for Q3 2024 to get an in-depth view of Backblaze, Inc. (BLZE)' financial performance, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
  2. SEC Filings – View Backblaze, Inc. (BLZE)' latest filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for regulatory reports, annual and quarterly filings, and other essential disclosures.