Today we announce that PetaGene will be acquired by Storj Labs Inc., and become a wholly owned subsidiary of the US-based company.

PetaGene started in 2006, quickly gathering numerous awards as a leading solution for high-performance file storage and genomic data compression. Our groundbreaking technology, cunoFS, allows users to interact with object storage as if it were a fast, native file system. This has been a game-changer for researchers, media professionals, and anyone working with large datasets who needs high-speed access and POSIX compatibility.

Best in class distributed storage

Storj is the leading platform for distributed cloud storage. By leveraging underutilized drives and servers, they offer a truly distributed and resilient platform. Storj provides S3-compatible storage that offers superior performance, security, cost and carbon efficiency compared to traditional hyperscalers, and their recent acquisition of Valdi brings distributed compute and GPU services into the mix, creating a comprehensive platform for distributed workloads. We’ve been impressed by the engineering effort to build such a resilient and performant storage platform, and their focus on engineering excellence to deliver great user experiences is a perfect fit with our own.

PetaGene’s cunoFS mount client bridges the gap between file storage and object storage, and is the only solution to deliver extremely high performance, scalability and POSIX compatibility without scrambling files. By being able to optimize up and down the storage stack with Storj, we believe that we can deliver even higher performance and ease of use to end users of cunoFS.

Storj: A Leader in Decentralized Cloud Storage

Storj has distinguished itself as a leading provider of decentralized cloud storage. Their innovative approach leverages underutilized hard drives and servers across the globe to create a truly decentralized and resilient platform. This architecture offers significant advantages over traditional hyperscalers, including:

• Enhanced Performance: Storj’s decentralized network delivers superior performance, especially for geographically distributed workloads.
• Robust Security: By encrypting and distributing data across its network, Storj provides unparalleled security and data protection.
• Cost Efficiency: Storj’s efficient use of resources translates to significant cost savings for users.
• Environmental Responsibility: Storj’s decentralized model reduces the need for energy-intensive data centers, contributing to a smaller carbon footprint.

Storj’s recent acquisition of Valdi further strengthens their offerings by adding distributed compute and GPU services, creating a comprehensive platform for diverse workloads. Here at PetaGene, we’ve been consistently impressed by Storj’s commitment to engineering excellence and their dedication to providing exceptional user experiences, values that resonate deeply with our own.

Bridging the Gap Between File and Object Storage

PetaGene’s cunoFS mount client seamlessly bridges the gap between file and object storage. It stands out as the only solution that delivers exceptional performance, scalability, and POSIX compatibility without the need for complex data transformations or gateways. By integrating with Storj, we can optimize across the entire storage stack, leading to even greater performance and ease of use for our customers.

A Commitment to Choice and Flexibility

We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing the best possible performance and ease of use across all major object storage backends. This includes public cloud providers like AWS S3, Azure Blob Storage, and Google Cloud Platform, as well as on-premises solutions such as minIO, Dell ECS, and NetApp StorageGRID. We believe in empowering our users with the flexibility to choose the storage infrastructure that best suits their needs.

Unlocking Synergies for Superior User Experiences

Joining forces with Storj unlocks exciting new possibilities for optimization. Previously, cunoFS could only optimize up to the limitations of each object storage vendor’s API. Now, with Storj, we can optimize across the entire storage stack, which we expect will lead to significant improvements in speed, efficiency, and overall user experience.

Benefits Across Industries

This acquisition brings significant benefits to our customers across various sectors:

• Genomics and Life Sciences: We will continue to provide our PetaSuite range of products, offering best-in-class compression and encryption for genomic data. By integrating with Storj, we can now offer these customers access to a wider range of powerful and cost-effective storage solutions, including decentralized cloud storage.
• Media and Entertainment: Media production workflows will be streamlined and accelerated. The combination of cunoFS and Storj’s decentralized storage will enable seamless collaboration on large projects, regardless of location, with enhanced performance and security.
• HPC, Scientific Compute, and Financial Services: cunoFS will empower these customers to tackle demanding computational challenges by providing high-speed access to massive datasets stored on Storj’s decentralized cloud. This translates to faster processing times, improved efficiency, and reduced costs for data-intensive workloads.

Looking Ahead

This acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for PetaGene. We’re thrilled to join forces with Storj and leverage our combined expertise to deliver innovative and powerful solutions that address the evolving needs of our customers. We believe that this partnership will shape the future of decentralized storage and drive advancements across a wide range of industries.