In today's digital age, many applications assume that data resides in a single location, typically a centralized cloud database. However, the rapid expansion of mobile devices and cloud infrastructure, only accelerated by the pandemic, has made data management more intricate than ever. To address the challenges posed by this complexity, Adam Fish and Max Alexander founded Ditto, which recently emerged from stealth with $45 million in Series A funding. Acrew Capital led the investment round, with participation from U.S. Innovative Technology Fund (USIT), True Ventures, and Amity Ventures.
Ditto offers a distributed database that can operate practically anywhere, according to its founders. The platform allows efficient data distribution across multiple environments, even in areas with poor or limited internet connectivity. By running across edge devices and the cloud, Ditto enables peer-to-peer data storage and synchronization across mobile and edge devices, allowing developers to subscribe for the required or desired data.
The increasing demand for contactless solutions during the pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities in traditional network infrastructures. As businesses scrambled to transition to new processes, those applications largely relied on internet connections. That is where Ditto's platform presents itself as a much-needed solution. The database operates independently of an internet connection, ensuring industries can quickly adapt to contactless solutions and enhance their applications and processes with added resiliency and redundancy. This also minimizes the risk of downtime and potential revenue loss, enabling businesses to continue operations even under connectivity issues.
Ditto's platform works across Bluetooth, peer-to-peer Wi-Fi, and local wired networks, automatically detecting and connecting to other devices to synchronize data. It offers various versions of its cloud database, from shared tenant environments to dedicated systems managed in a customer's cloud account. Developers can choose to utilize the platform’s APIs, query-based sync, or both, depending on their specific needs.
Market research firm Technavio predicts that the enterprise file sync and share tools market could be worth $12.84 billion by 2026. Given this projection, it's no surprise that Ditto isn't the only startup vying for a piece of the pie. Competitors include Whalesync, PieSync, and the open-source Grouparoo, owned by Airbyte.
Ditto has already gained a solid customer base, boasting tens of thousands of clients, including brands like Alaska Airlines, Hugo, Japan Airlines, and Lufthansa. The company also has several active government and military contracts, such as a deal worth up to $950 million with the U.S. Air Force. This collaboration speaks to the wide range of use cases for Ditto's technology, from everyday life to business processes and strategic military operations.
In the coming months, Ditto plans to expand its software development kit and further commercialize its technology while also acquiring customers in industries such as travel, education, and retail. The recently raised funds will be used to strengthen sales and support roles, improving their clientele experience.
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