Cubbit
Bologna startup developing a distributed cloud storage platform with S3-compatible APIs, designed for data sovereignty, cost reduction and sustainability.
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About Cubbit
Cubbit is one of the most interesting cloud startups to emerge from Italy, founded in Bologna in 2016. Its technology is based on a geo-distributed storage architecture that eliminates centralised data centres: data is distributed across geographically spread nodes with end-to-end encryption, offering S3 compatibility for enterprises and SMEs. The $12.5M round in 2024 consolidates its positioning as a European alternative to AWS S3 for customers requiring data sovereignty, cost reduction and sustainability.
The Story
Founded in Bologna in 2016 by Alessandro Cillario and co-founders, with the thesis of building an alternative to centralised cloud based on distributed infrastructure.
How Cubbit works
Business Model
B2B SaaS: pay-per-use cloud storage with S3 API, enterprise subscriptions and self-hosted options.
Revenue Model
Pay-as-you-go on storage, enterprise subscriptions, licensing for private deployments.
Products & Services
Key Products
- Cubbit DS3 (Distributed S3)
- Cubbit Cloud (consumer/prosumer)
- Enterprise storage API
Core Use Cases
- Enterprise cloud storage
- S3-compatible backup
- Data sovereignty compliance
- Multi-cloud strategy
- Distributed storage
Market & Clients
Key Customers
European enterprises and SMEs requiring S3-compatible storage with data sovereignty and reduced costs.
Geographic Presence
How Cubbit competes
Competitors
Competitive Advantages
- Geo-distributed architecture without central data centres
- Native S3 compatibility
- European data sovereignty positioning
- End-to-end encryption by design
How Cubbit grows
Growth Strategy
Enterprise growth in Europe on data sovereignty basis, expansion of distributed node network.
Distribution Model
Self-serve via API and console, enterprise sales, partner channel.
Moat (Defensibility)
Proprietary technical architecture, integrated encryption, S3 compatibility and European regulatory positioning.
Regulatory Context
Relevant to GDPR, NIS2, EU Data Act and data sovereignty requirements for European enterprises.
Key Risks
- Competition from hyperscalers with unlimited resources
- Operational complexity of distributed infrastructure
- Slow enterprise adoption due to architectural changes
Strategic Insights
- Data sovereignty has become a contractual requirement for many European enterprises.
- A distributed architecture can offer lower costs than centralised data centres for high-volume storage workloads.
- S3 compatibility is the key to enterprise adoption without lock-in.
Funding & Investors
Funding Rounds
- 2024 - Series B: $12.5M
Key Investors
Founding Team
Founders
Key Executives
- Alessandro Cillario - CEO
Key Metrics
Lessons from Cubbit
- Choosing a fundamentally different technical architecture (distributed vs centralised) can create a stronger moat than any feature.
- Building compatibility with existing standards (S3) dramatically reduces the adoption cost for customers.
- The sovereign cloud market in Europe is growing strongly for regulatory and geopolitical reasons.
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