ServerFarm

In 1999, the story of ServerFarm began, not as a typical tech startup, but as part of the real estate investment strategy of the Red Sea Group and its North American CEO, Avner Papouchado. The company started by acquiring data center properties, building a portfolio with a real estate investor's mindset. Recognizing a major shift in how businesses wanted to manage their IT, Papouchado officially launched ServerFarm in 2009. The core idea was that companies shouldn't be in the business of owning and operating capital-intensive data centers; they should be able to consume those services like a utility. A key moment in ServerFarm's journey was the 2019 acquisition of 5NINES Global Holdings. This move significantly expanded its footprint into Europe and integrated a crucial business model: acquiring enterprise data centers and leasing the capacity back to them as a managed service. This strategy, combined with its own InCommand software for remote data center management, solidified ServerFarm's unique position in the market. The next major event occurred in May 2023, when Manulife Investment Management acquired a controlling interest in the company. This wasn't a fire sale; it was a strategic partnership to fuel accelerated growth. With the backing of a global asset manager, ServerFarm secured the capital needed to expand its portfolio of modernized, high-capacity data centers across North America, Europe, and Israel, capitalizing on the immense demand for digital infrastructure.