Today, twenty years later, Budman has earned his MBA, founded three companies, and led the product design from pre-funding through acquisition at two others.
He is currently CEO of Backblaze, a data storage company offering unlimited online backup services for $5/month.
Looking back at his years at Berkeley, Budman emphasizes the value of the connections he has built along the way. He told Berkeley Innovators, “The people I’ve met through Berkeley and Haas have been among the most open, kind, and grounded ones I’ve known." He advice to students? "Get to know your classmates and stay in touch. In addition to being great people to hang out with, they’re likely to be excellent future partners, employees, or investors."