When Avi Shetty speaks about enterprise storage, he draws from nearly 15 years at Intel’s NAND and SSD division—a background that uniquely positions him to discuss the future of data center hardware. Now serving as vice president of AI ecosystem, solutions, and market enablement at Solidigm, Shetty leads a team focused on validating and integrating the company’s storage solutions across global platforms, from hyperscalers to AI infrastructure providers. During a recent conversation, he shared insights into Solidigm’s technology strategy, market positioning, and how the company is adapting to the demands of AI-driven workloads.
Solidigm operates as a fully independent subsidiary of SK hynix, a structure that allows the company to pursue a focused enterprise storage strategy. Unlike competitors that serve multiple markets—including mobile and client devices—Solidigm concentrates exclusively on data center SSDs, leveraging two distinct NAND architectures: proprietary floating-gate technology developed in-house at its Dalian, China facility, and charge-trap flash (CTF) technology accessed through its parent company. This dual approach enables Solidigm to tailor its offerings for high-density and high-performance use cases, particularly as AI workloads drive demand for scalable, low-latency storage.
A vertically integrated model built for enterprise needs
From NAND production to controller design, Solidigm controls its entire technology stack—a rarity in the storage industry. The company designs its own firmware, develops proprietary controllers, and manufactures its floating-gate NAND in a dedicated facility. While it partners with foundries for final assembly, this vertical integration allows Solidigm to optimize performance, power efficiency, and reliability for enterprise environments.
The company’s focus on enterprise SSDs is reflected in its market share. As of early 2025, Solidigm holds approximately 24% of the enterprise SSD market, a figure derived from quarterly and semiannual evaluations. This dominance is particularly notable given Solidigm’s exclusive focus on data center storage, which contrasts with competitors that distribute their NAND and SSD solutions across broader markets.
High-density storage takes center stage
Demand for high-capacity SSDs has surged in recent years, driven by the exponential growth of AI training, real-time analytics, and large-scale databases. Solidigm’s 61TB and 122TB-class SSDs have quickly gained traction among customers, with adoption accelerating in hyperscale data centers and cloud environments. While the company does not disclose the exact breakdown between high-capacity and high-performance products, Shetty notes that both segments are critical to Solidigm’s growth strategy.
The company’s high-density SSDs are particularly well-suited for AI workloads, where training models require massive datasets to be stored and accessed with minimal latency. Solidigm’s floating-gate NAND, which offers improved endurance and power efficiency compared to traditional charge-trap designs, plays a key role in enabling these capabilities.
Liquid cooling and next-gen interfaces on the horizon
Solidigm is also pushing the boundaries of storage hardware with innovations like liquid-cooled SSDs. At industry events, the company has showcased designs such as the D7-PS1010, an E1.S form-factor PCIe 5.0 drive equipped with a wrap-around cold plate for thermal management. As data center power densities increase, liquid cooling is becoming a necessity for high-performance storage, and Solidigm is positioning itself as a leader in this space.
Looking further ahead, the company is actively developing solutions for PCIe 6.0, the next-generation interface expected to double bandwidth compared to PCIe 5.0. While adoption of PCIe 6.0 is still in its early stages, Solidigm is preparing its controllers and firmware to support the standard as it matures. In parallel, the company continues to refine its floating-gate NAND technology, with a roadmap that includes even higher layer counts and improved performance characteristics.
A diversified customer base in the age of AI
Solidigm’s customer base spans hyperscalers, OEMs, and emerging AI infrastructure providers, with a presence across the Americas, EMEA, China, and Asia-Pacific. While traditional cloud providers remain a core segment, Shetty highlights the rapid rise of NeoCloud providers—companies specializing in AI-optimized infrastructure, such as CoreWeave, Lambda, Crusoe, and Nebius. These organizations are driving demand for storage solutions that can keep pace with the computational intensity of AI workloads, and Solidigm is well-positioned to meet their needs.
As AI continues to reshape the data center landscape, the storage industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Solidigm’s blend of proprietary technology, vertical integration, and a laser focus on enterprise storage positions it to play a pivotal role in this transformation. With liquid-cooled SSDs, PCIe 6.0 readiness, and next-generation NAND in the pipeline, the company is not just keeping up with the demands of modern workloads—it’s helping to define them.
AI summary
Solidigm’un Genel Müdür Yardımcısı Avi Shetty, PCIe 6.0 SSD’ler, sıvı soğutmalı depolama ve yeni NAND teknolojileri hakkında kritik bilgiler paylaştı. Veri merkezi depolama çözümlerinin geleceği burada.
