Unternehmensnachrichten über OWC buys Open Drives to expand stack

OWC, known for supplying extra storage, memory and software solutions to media and entertainment Apple users, is acquiring OpenDrives together with its Atlas video and rich media storage management software and services.

Adding OpenDrives’ offerings extends OWC’s shared storage portfolio. The Atlas platform, OWC states, “has been the preferred solution for leading Hollywood studios, post-production houses, and live broadcast networks since 2011, recognized for reliably handling the low-latency, high-throughput performance required for complex, data-intensive creative environments.”

Larry O’Connor, founder and CEO of OWC, commented: “OWC has always been about removing the barriers between people and their creative work. Bringing OpenDrives into OWC allows us to take that mission further by connecting the high-performance storage and workflow solutions our customers rely on with powerful software-defined data management services, giving customers a more seamless way to capture, create, collaborate, and access their content wherever their work takes them.”

OpenDrives CEO Trevor Morgan said: ”OWC and OpenDrives share strong synergy; we could not be more excited about this acquisition. Integrating OpenDrives’ Atlas, Astraeus, and Edge products enables OWC to deliver an end-to-end data ecosystem — from plug-and-play edit bays to global enterprise pipelines handling uncompressed 8K/12K workflows across on-premises, edge, and hybrid cloud. OpenDrives’ existing customers can leverage OWC’s award-winning direct-attached and shared storage portfolio, plus more cost-effective archive and backup options.”

OWC (Other World Computing) is an established independent private firm focused on creative professionals. Founded by O’Connor in Woodstock, Illinois in 1988 when he was 14, the company has grown over 37 years to specialize in computer hardware upgrades and accessories for Apple Mac, iPhone and Windows PCs. Its product lineup includes SSDs, RAM, external drives, Thunderbolt docks and enclosures. Its creative professional user base includes photographers, video editors and musicians seeking fast storage and system expansion.

OWC maintains offices in Texas, Nevada and Woodstock alongside two online stores. Its Jellyfish family of shared NAS systems targets video and media teams. OWC acquired Jellyfish originator LumaForge in January 2021 and has kept expanding the product line.

OpenDrives launched in 2011 by Chad Knowles, Jeff Brue and Kyle Jackson, media and entertainment post-production specialists aiming to deliver high-performance storage and workflow tools for M&E clients. Jackson departed in 2015 to lead XR firm Talespin, Brue became CEO at visual storytelling studio Illuscio in 2017, while Knowles resigned in 2020 to join Pixitmedia.

The firm has rotated through multiple CEOs: David Buss (2019-2022), Izhar Sharon (2022-2024), Sean Lee (2024-January 2026), and Trevor Morgan, promoted from COO this January. Lee’s tenure drove a strategic shift from hardware storage vendor toward software-led video data and workflow platforms.

OpenDrives raised $10 million in Series A (2015), $20 million Series B in 2021 led by IAG Capital Partners, plus undisclosed funding early this year upon Morgan’s promotion, bringing total capital above $30 million. Fresh funds supported global expansion of its software platform for media, sports and enterprise video teams while scaling back hardware operations.

It rolled out Astraeus, its Kubernetes-based cloud-native private cloud data service, in November 2025 to complement its core video data management software. Astraeus combines on-premises storage with the ability to deploy and manage integrated public-cloud-style data services. The Edge hybrid cloud-edge performance accelerator, delivering low-latency local data access for distributed edge teams, launched in April this year.

Joel Whitley, Partner at lead investor IAG Capital Partners, said: “We could not be more optimistic about OpenDrives’ future in delivering the world’s leading video data management platform for media, entertainment, professional sports, and corporate video production teams.”

Morgan remarked at the funding time: “With our business transformation behind us, we are well-positioned to expand the OpenDrives platform to video production professionals across all industries and around the globe – wherever companies struggle with complex video, we are the solution partner of choice.”

Eight months later, OWC bought the firm and its staff, lifting combined headcount to roughly 250. Acquisition terms remain undisclosed. Investor Whitley added: “OpenDrives has a long history of supporting creators, and we are very pleased that OWC shares that same vision and will continue OpenDrives’ legacy of providing the best products to creatives solving the hardest problems.”

Jellyfish updates OWC will preview Jellyfish upgrades at IBC 2026 (RAI Amsterdam, September 11–14): Jellyfish Connect 4 features streamlined automatic setup for faster, smoother connection and reconnection of Mac and PC workstations during productions. Updated Jellyfish Manager 3.2 and Jellyfish Media Manager 3.2. Ultra high-speed SMB performance with ATTO SmartNICs and ThunderLink adapters.

OWC Jellyfish Manager 3.2 and Ultra High-speed SMB Performance for Nomad are now generally available. Jellyfish Connect 4 and Media Manager 3.2 will release in Q4 2026.

Bootnote OWC has made several strategic moves recently. In June it acquired PowerON Services, an IT asset disposition, trade-in, reverse logistics, refurbishment and technology value recovery provider. The PowerON deal strengthens OWC’s SellYourMac.com (SYM), one of the world’s largest and most trusted buyers and resellers of pre-owned Apple computers, iPhones and iPads.

Earlier in May, OWC appointed M2M Direct as its UK distribution partner and named Peter Airs European Marketing Manager, building European marketing capabilities on top of existing EMEA operations as part of its regional growth strategy.

April brought a new CFO hire, Rob Steffens, former Marvel co-president and CFO. While at Marvel Entertainment, Steffens helped turn the $100 million public company into the $4.5 billion Disney acquisition target, then supported its growth into a $50 billion global entertainment giant over the following decade.

Beijing Qianxing Jietong Technology Co., Ltd.
Sandy Yang/Global Strategy Director
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Email: yangyd@qianxingdata.com
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