Backblaze Named Finalist for Most Innovative Data Storage Solution in 2026 Tech Innovation Awards
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 28 2026
0mins
Should l Buy BLZE?
Source: Newsfilter
- Award Finalist: Backblaze's B2 Overdrive has been recognized as a finalist for the Most Innovative Data Storage Solution in the 2026 SiliconANGLE Tech Innovation Awards, highlighting its innovative capabilities and market impact in the cloud storage sector.
- Outstanding Performance: B2 Overdrive delivers up to 1Tbps of sustained throughput, specifically designed for AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing workloads, significantly enhancing data processing efficiency while reducing enterprise storage costs.
- Transparent Pricing Strategy: The platform eliminates hidden fees and complex pricing tiers, allowing businesses to deploy flexibly at predictable costs, thereby driving innovation in AI and high-performance computing and transforming the strategic role of cloud storage.
- Market Competitive Edge: Backblaze's high-performance cloud object storage solution stands out in a competitive market, attracting over 500,000 customers and serving hundreds of millions of end users across 175 countries worldwide.
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Analyst Views on BLZE
Wall Street analysts forecast BLZE stock price to rise
6 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 4.030
Low
8.00
Averages
9.50
High
11.00
Current: 4.030
Low
8.00
Averages
9.50
High
11.00
About BLZE
Backblaze, Inc. is a cloud storage company. The Company's two cloud services that it offers on its Storage Cloud are: Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage and Backblaze Computer Backup. Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage enables customers to store data, developers to build applications, and partners to expand their use cases. The amount of data stored in this cloud service can scale up and down as needed on a pay-as-you-go basis, or can be paid for on a capacity basis or committed contract for greater predictability. This Infrastructure-as-a-Service enables use cases including backups, multi-cloud, application storage, ransomware protection, and storage for artificial intelligence/machine learning workflows. Backblaze Computer Backup automatically backs up data from laptops and desktops for businesses and individuals. This service is offered as a subscription-based Software-as-a-Service and serves use cases including computer backup, ransomware protection, theft and loss protection, and remote access.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Backblaze Launches Flamethrower Startup Program for Predictable Cloud Storage
- Program Launch: Backblaze has introduced the Flamethrower program aimed at providing early-stage companies with predictable cloud storage and hands-on support, enabling them to build and scale without being hindered by unpredictable infrastructure costs or complexities.
- Founder-Centric Approach: This initiative is specifically designed for founders and small teams working on data-heavy products, emphasizing real production infrastructure and practical support, thus avoiding the pitfalls of traditional programs that rely on short-term credits and upcharges.
- Support for Diverse Workloads: Flamethrower offers qualifying startups cloud storage credits for Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage, supporting common workloads such as AI/ML training data, media, and gaming assets, ensuring flexibility as businesses scale.
- No Pressure Engagement: The program respects founders' time by eliminating mandatory demos and sales pressure, with applications reviewed by real people, allowing participants to engage with Backblaze at their own pace, making data storage the least complex part of their tech stack.
See More
Backblaze Reports 2025 Annual Drive Failure Rate at 1.36%
- Declining Failure Rates: The annualized failure rate for 2025 dropped to 1.36%, down from 1.55% in 2024, indicating Backblaze's ongoing improvements in drive quality and management practices, which is likely to enhance customer confidence in its cloud storage services.
- Rise of High-Capacity Drives: Drives in the 14-16TB range now represent 52% of active drives, while those over 20TB account for nearly 23%, reflecting a growing market demand for high-capacity storage that could bolster Backblaze's competitiveness in data-intensive applications.
- New Model Deployment: Backblaze has deployed its first 26TB drive, the WDC WUH722626ALE6L4, which recorded one failure in its initial service period; this move signifies the company's strategic positioning in the high-capacity storage sector, expected to enhance its capabilities in serving AI and neocloud workloads.
- Industry Data Transparency: The Drive Stats report analyzes the performance of 344,196 drives, establishing itself as the largest publicly accessible record of hard drive reliability in the industry, which is likely to attract more enterprises to consider Backblaze's cloud storage solutions and further expand its market share.
See More
Backblaze Releases Q4 Network Stats Report Highlighting AI Traffic Surge
- AI Traffic Concentration: Q4 data reveals that AI-driven data transfers cluster around compute hubs in the US-East, particularly in Northern Virginia, New York, and Atlanta, underscoring the critical need for low-latency connectivity for model training workloads.
- High-Throughput Connections Normalized: Utilizing its 'magnitude' metric, Backblaze validated a shift from many-to-many internet traffic to sustained, high-throughput connections between specialized storage and compute systems, indicating a rapid evolution in network behavior.
- Accelerated Large-Scale Data Migrations: Migration traffic surged from August to October, driven by private fiber onboarding of large datasets, reflecting an increasing demand for high-performance connectivity among enterprises.
- US-West Remains Crucial: While US-West ISP regional traffic still leads in total volume, Backblaze's exchanges with consumer networks enable lower latency traffic delivery, ensuring its competitive edge in the market.
See More
Backblaze Named Finalist for Most Innovative Data Storage Solution in 2026 Tech Innovation Awards
- Award Finalist: Backblaze's B2 Overdrive has been recognized as a finalist for the Most Innovative Data Storage Solution in the 2026 SiliconANGLE Tech Innovation Awards, highlighting its innovative capabilities and market impact in the cloud storage sector.
- Outstanding Performance: B2 Overdrive delivers up to 1Tbps of sustained throughput, specifically designed for AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing workloads, significantly enhancing data processing efficiency while reducing enterprise storage costs.
- Transparent Pricing Strategy: The platform eliminates hidden fees and complex pricing tiers, allowing businesses to deploy flexibly at predictable costs, thereby driving innovation in AI and high-performance computing and transforming the strategic role of cloud storage.
- Market Competitive Edge: Backblaze's high-performance cloud object storage solution stands out in a competitive market, attracting over 500,000 customers and serving hundreds of millions of end users across 175 countries worldwide.
See More
Backblaze Named Finalist for 2026 Most Innovative Data Storage Solution
- Innovative Storage Solution: Backblaze's B2 Overdrive has been named a finalist for the 2026 SiliconANGLE Media Most Innovative Data Storage Solution Award, showcasing its disruptive innovation in the cloud storage sector and enhancing the company's reputation in a competitive market.
- Performance and Cost Advantage: B2 Overdrive delivers up to 1Tbps of sustained throughput, specifically designed for AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing workloads, breaking the traditional trade-off between cost and performance, significantly reducing storage costs for enterprises.
- Transparent Pricing and Flexible Deployment: The platform eliminates hidden fees and provides flexible deployment options, enabling businesses to scale their AI and ML workloads with predictable costs and performance, transforming cloud storage into a strategic enabler.
- Industry Recognition and Future Outlook: Backblaze's B2 Overdrive stands out among numerous competitors, receiving recognition from industry experts, indicating its significant contributions to shaping the future of B2B and B2B2C technology.
See More
Security Technology Update: Analyst Perspectives from 12 Firms Before the 'Quiet Period'
Analyst Ratings and Price Targets: Needham analysts provided ratings and price targets for various companies, including a "Buy" for Backblaze, Cellebrite, Datadog, JFrog, N-Able, Tenable, and Varonis, while Fortinet and Check Point received "Hold" ratings.
Company Performance Insights: Key takeaways from the meetings highlighted that Backblaze is in phase 2 of its market transformation, Cellebrite expects growth to reaccelerate in 2026, and Fortinet aims to boost service revenue growth in the latter half of 2026.
Stock Price Movements: Several stocks saw price increases, including Backblaze (+4.88%) and Datadog (+1.80%), while Fortinet's stock declined slightly by 0.14%.
Future Expectations: Companies like DigitalOcean and Dynatrace are preparing for future growth with new data center capacity and expected net new ARR reacceleration, respectively, while ServiceNow faces challenges with AI and M&A risks.
See More
Backblaze Launches Flamethrower Startup Program for Predictable Cloud Storage
- Program Launch: Backblaze has introduced the Flamethrower program aimed at providing early-stage companies with predictable cloud storage and hands-on support, enabling them to build and scale without being hindered by unpredictable infrastructure costs or complexities.
- Founder-Centric Approach: This initiative is specifically designed for founders and small teams working on data-heavy products, emphasizing real production infrastructure and practical support, thus avoiding the pitfalls of traditional programs that rely on short-term credits and upcharges.
- Support for Diverse Workloads: Flamethrower offers qualifying startups cloud storage credits for Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage, supporting common workloads such as AI/ML training data, media, and gaming assets, ensuring flexibility as businesses scale.
- No Pressure Engagement: The program respects founders' time by eliminating mandatory demos and sales pressure, with applications reviewed by real people, allowing participants to engage with Backblaze at their own pace, making data storage the least complex part of their tech stack.
See More
Backblaze Reports 2025 Annual Drive Failure Rate at 1.36%
- Declining Failure Rates: The annualized failure rate for 2025 dropped to 1.36%, down from 1.55% in 2024, indicating Backblaze's ongoing improvements in drive quality and management practices, which is likely to enhance customer confidence in its cloud storage services.
- Rise of High-Capacity Drives: Drives in the 14-16TB range now represent 52% of active drives, while those over 20TB account for nearly 23%, reflecting a growing market demand for high-capacity storage that could bolster Backblaze's competitiveness in data-intensive applications.
- New Model Deployment: Backblaze has deployed its first 26TB drive, the WDC WUH722626ALE6L4, which recorded one failure in its initial service period; this move signifies the company's strategic positioning in the high-capacity storage sector, expected to enhance its capabilities in serving AI and neocloud workloads.
- Industry Data Transparency: The Drive Stats report analyzes the performance of 344,196 drives, establishing itself as the largest publicly accessible record of hard drive reliability in the industry, which is likely to attract more enterprises to consider Backblaze's cloud storage solutions and further expand its market share.
See More
Backblaze Releases Q4 Network Stats Report Highlighting AI Traffic Surge
- AI Traffic Concentration: Q4 data reveals that AI-driven data transfers cluster around compute hubs in the US-East, particularly in Northern Virginia, New York, and Atlanta, underscoring the critical need for low-latency connectivity for model training workloads.
- High-Throughput Connections Normalized: Utilizing its 'magnitude' metric, Backblaze validated a shift from many-to-many internet traffic to sustained, high-throughput connections between specialized storage and compute systems, indicating a rapid evolution in network behavior.
- Accelerated Large-Scale Data Migrations: Migration traffic surged from August to October, driven by private fiber onboarding of large datasets, reflecting an increasing demand for high-performance connectivity among enterprises.
- US-West Remains Crucial: While US-West ISP regional traffic still leads in total volume, Backblaze's exchanges with consumer networks enable lower latency traffic delivery, ensuring its competitive edge in the market.
See More
Backblaze Named Finalist for Most Innovative Data Storage Solution in 2026 Tech Innovation Awards
- Award Finalist: Backblaze's B2 Overdrive has been recognized as a finalist for the Most Innovative Data Storage Solution in the 2026 SiliconANGLE Tech Innovation Awards, highlighting its innovative capabilities and market impact in the cloud storage sector.
- Outstanding Performance: B2 Overdrive delivers up to 1Tbps of sustained throughput, specifically designed for AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing workloads, significantly enhancing data processing efficiency while reducing enterprise storage costs.
- Transparent Pricing Strategy: The platform eliminates hidden fees and complex pricing tiers, allowing businesses to deploy flexibly at predictable costs, thereby driving innovation in AI and high-performance computing and transforming the strategic role of cloud storage.
- Market Competitive Edge: Backblaze's high-performance cloud object storage solution stands out in a competitive market, attracting over 500,000 customers and serving hundreds of millions of end users across 175 countries worldwide.
See More
Backblaze Named Finalist for 2026 Most Innovative Data Storage Solution
- Innovative Storage Solution: Backblaze's B2 Overdrive has been named a finalist for the 2026 SiliconANGLE Media Most Innovative Data Storage Solution Award, showcasing its disruptive innovation in the cloud storage sector and enhancing the company's reputation in a competitive market.
- Performance and Cost Advantage: B2 Overdrive delivers up to 1Tbps of sustained throughput, specifically designed for AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing workloads, breaking the traditional trade-off between cost and performance, significantly reducing storage costs for enterprises.
- Transparent Pricing and Flexible Deployment: The platform eliminates hidden fees and provides flexible deployment options, enabling businesses to scale their AI and ML workloads with predictable costs and performance, transforming cloud storage into a strategic enabler.
- Industry Recognition and Future Outlook: Backblaze's B2 Overdrive stands out among numerous competitors, receiving recognition from industry experts, indicating its significant contributions to shaping the future of B2B and B2B2C technology.
See More
Security Technology Update: Analyst Perspectives from 12 Firms Before the 'Quiet Period'
Analyst Ratings and Price Targets: Needham analysts provided ratings and price targets for various companies, including a "Buy" for Backblaze, Cellebrite, Datadog, JFrog, N-Able, Tenable, and Varonis, while Fortinet and Check Point received "Hold" ratings.
Company Performance Insights: Key takeaways from the meetings highlighted that Backblaze is in phase 2 of its market transformation, Cellebrite expects growth to reaccelerate in 2026, and Fortinet aims to boost service revenue growth in the latter half of 2026.
Stock Price Movements: Several stocks saw price increases, including Backblaze (+4.88%) and Datadog (+1.80%), while Fortinet's stock declined slightly by 0.14%.
Future Expectations: Companies like DigitalOcean and Dynatrace are preparing for future growth with new data center capacity and expected net new ARR reacceleration, respectively, while ServiceNow faces challenges with AI and M&A risks.
See More
