IT outsourcing startup Electric may not have seen it all, but it’s come pretty close.
Since 2016, companies have relied on its Slack-powered interface for IT support ranging from creating email addresses to unclogging avocado-filled USB ports (seriously).
With $10 million in fresh Series A funding, the company plans to grow virtually every part of the business so more users can enjoy reliable, efficient IT assistance — and avocado-free laptops.
“If you have easy access to great IT support, the benefits touch every part of the organization,” said CEO and founder Ryan Denehy. “How long does it take to set up a computer and software for a new employee? Who currently admins all of your SaaS software? Offloading that to an expert lets your team focus on doing the jobs they were hired to do.”
The idea for Electric came about when Denehy, who was running a different company at the time, was forced to dismiss his sales staff after a three-day bout of spotty WiFi.
If you have easy access to great IT support, the benefits touch every part of the organization."
“I couldn't believe how hard it was to find someone to help us with stuff like that!” he said. “It seemed absolutely crazy that nobody had tried to create a modern IT solution for businesses.”
So that’s exactly what he did.
Having previously launched two startups that got acquired, Denehy is no stranger to setting companies up for success. At just 17 years old, he created a sports video production company that was later acquired by USA Today. Years later, his retail analytics business, Swarm, was acquired by Groupon.
“I'm a career startup guy,” he said. “By the time we exited Swarm, I had a really good sense of how backwards the IT services market was, and I became determined to build something better.”
Electric launched in December 2016 with four employees, and has since exploded to 40 people. It’s continuing to add to its sales, marketing and support teams, and plans to move to a bigger office in the near future.
The funding was led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with participation from existing investors Bowery Capital and Primary Venture Partners. Bessemer’s Bob Goodman will join the company’s board of directors.
