Managing increasingly complex, distributed IT systems is a major challenge today for IT managers. As part of CRN’s Stellar Startups for 2026, here are four technology startups in the data center and IT management space, founded in 2020 or later, that solution providers should be aware of.
Centers Of Attention
Managing IT hardware and software systems and services is an increasingly complex task as IT networks become more dispersed. While cloud computing has become a significant component of the IT landscape, many businesses and organizations maintain significant IT operations within their own data centers, private clouds and proprietary networks.
That means continued demand for IT infrastructure products, data center services, and the tools that IT managers and IT service providers need to monitor and manage IT estates and automate IT management tasks as much as possible.
As part of CRN’s Stellar Startups for 2026, here are four startups, founded in 2020 or later, that solution providers should be aware of in the data center and IT management space.
Balata Data
Founded: 2022
Headquarters: Atlanta, Ga.
Top Executive: JJ Jeanguenat, Co-CEO and Managing Partner
Balata Data is a premium partner for the channel for enterprise data center services. The fast-growing startup delivers maintenance, ITAD, and lifecycle solutions that often surpass OEM quality, with startup speed and a partner-first focus. It helps VARs and GSIs worldwide win more deals, protect margins, and deliver exceptional results from installation to decommission.
BalataOne Maintenance pairs premium multi-vendor data center support with the BalataOne Portal, a real-time service management platform. Features include 4-hour onsite response, rigorously vetted engineers, flexible SLAs, and global coverage. The company’s target market is VARs and GSIs serving enterprise clients who need better-than-OEM quality with greater flexibility and value.
Website: https://www.balatadata.com/
Fleet Device Management
Founded: 2020
Headquarters: San Francisco, Calif.
Top Executive: Mike McNeil, Co-Founder and CEO
Fleet Device Management develops an open-source device management and vulnerability management platform for Macs, PCs, iPhones, iPads, Android, Chromebooks, desktop Linux, and cloud infrastructure. The company’s mission is to bring transparency, efficiency, and control to device management.
Organizations in 90 countries use Fleet to manage millions of devices at scale, enhance security, and stay compliant. Fleet launched its inaugural partner program in April.
Fleet manages macOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, and Android devices from a single console, without compromising management and security. Work in the UI, automate with the API, or manage settings as code. Clients can let the company host Fleet or deploy it themselves with the same experience either way.
Website: https://fleetdm.com
NetBox Labs
Founded: 2023
Headquarters: New York
Top Executive: Kris Beevers, Co-Founder and CEO
Modern business depends on infrastructure that is too complex to manage manually. NetBox Labs provides the trusted data foundation that gives organizations a continuously updated understanding of what infrastructure exists, how it’s changing and whether it matches intent, enabling safe AI-driven automation, effective change management, and more resilient operations.
The NetBox Labs Infrastructure Intelligence Platform provides a trusted foundation for infrastructure management, automation, and change governance, helping enterprises and AI data centers operate complex network and infrastructure environments.
Website: https://netboxlabs.com/
Tradewinds Networks
Founded: 2024
Headquarters: Newport Beach, Calif.
Top Executive: John Santoyo, CEO
Tradewinds Networks Inc. (TNI) is at the intersection of digital infrastructure and social impact. TNI delivers an integrated infrastructure – a unified, digital backbone that merges connectivity, edge computing, edge AI, embedded cybersecurity, and city-focused models into a single asset class.
TNI deploys ecosystems that are sovereign, high-performance, and monetizable.
The company delivers an integrated digital infrastructure – a unified, revenue-generating private wireless backbone that merges connectivity, edge computing, edge AI applications, embedded cybersecurity (GuardTower), and community-focused business models into a single deployable asset class.
Website: www.tradewindsnetworks.com
