Splashtop

Splashtop Inc. provides secure remote access and support software, positioning itself as a key player in the remote work and IT management market. The company was established in 2006 by a team of four MIT alumni: Mark Lee, Robert Ha, Thomas Deng, and Philip Sheu. This founding team had prior entrepreneurial success, having started OSA Technologies in 2000, a server management software company acquired by Avocent for $100 million in 2004.

Initially founded as DeviceVM, the company's first product was a browser-based operating system named Splashtop, which shipped on over 300 million PCs from major OEMs like Dell, HP, and Sony. In 2010, the company pivoted to focus on remote access solutions and rebranded itself as Splashtop. A significant milestone was achieved in January 2021, when a $50 million funding round led by Sapphire Ventures elevated the company's valuation to over $1 billion, granting it unicorn status. The total funding raised by the company amounts to over $110 million from investors including Storm Ventures, NEA, and DFJ DragonFund.

Splashtop's business model is centered on subscription-based services for its software. The company serves a diverse client base, from individuals and small businesses to large enterprises, educational institutions, and managed service providers (MSPs). Its products are designed to enable users to remotely access and control computers and mobile devices from any other device, facilitating remote work, distance learning, and IT support. The product lineup includes Splashtop Business Access for individuals and teams, Splashtop Remote Support for IT professionals and MSPs, and Splashtop Enterprise for larger organizations requiring features like single sign-on integration. Key features of the software include high-performance 4K streaming, cross-platform support (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android), file transfer, remote print, session recording, and robust security measures like 256-bit AES encryption, two-factor authentication, and compliance with standards such as SOC 2 and GDPR. The company also offers solutions for endpoint management and an antivirus product powered by Bitdefender.

The founders' backgrounds are deeply rooted in technology and business. Mark Lee (CEO) previously worked at Intel after earning his degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT. Robert Ha (COO) brought financial expertise from his time on Wall Street at firms like Citibank and WestLB, combined with engineering roles at HP and IBM. This blend of technical and financial acumen from the founding team has been instrumental in navigating market shifts, such as the strategic pivot from a browser OS to the high-growth remote access market. Keywords: remote access, remote support, endpoint management, IT management software, work from home, distance learning, managed service providers, remote desktop, secure access, cross-platform support, Splashtop Business, Splashtop Enterprise, IT solutions, help desk software, SaaS, device management, remote collaboration, cybersecurity, VPN alternative, SOC 2 compliant