rPath enables Linux software appliances for ISVs

<http://www.rpath.com/> 
 

rPath Secures $6.4 Series A Funding

Company to deliver a platform that enables software appliances for
application developers 
 

RALEIGH, NC (January 24, 2006) - rPath, provider of the first platform for
creating and maintaining Linux software appliances, today announced that the
company has closed a $6.4 million round of venture financing. The Series A
round was led by North Bridge Venture Partners and General Catalyst Partners
out of Boston, Massachusetts.

 

"We have backed many companies who have experienced the pain of configuring
Linux for specific applications and have often seen companies that cannot
deploy and support open source on a cost-effective basis," said Michael
Skok, general partner with North Bridge Venture Partners.  "We believe that
rPath is providing the right solution for these problems and are very
excited about the company's potential."

 

"Linux and open source are changing the dynamics of the software industry,"
said Billy Marshall, founder and CEO with rPath. "Our mission at rPath is to
help software developers take full advantage of open source technology to
deliver more value to their customers."

 

The company plans to use this capital to extend the market reach and
penetration of its products in the rapidly growing Linux market.  The
product, rBuilder, is used by application developers to combine a software
application with a streamlined version of system software to create a
software appliance.  Application customers can quickly and easily deploy the
software appliance on industry standard hardware or as a virtual machine,
greatly simplifying application installation and management. 

 

"The software appliance approach makes perfect sense for end-users who are
interested in simplifying the deployment and management of applications,"
said Gary Chen, SMB analyst with Yankee Group.  "With this model, users are
sheltered from operating system issues and are able to quickly and easily
receive the value of the  applications."

 

rPath Founders and Management Team

rPath was founded earlier this year by seasoned Linux professionals, Erik
Troan, Chief Technology Officer and Billy Marshall, CEO. Prior to rPath,
Erik was the Vice President of Engineering at Red Hat, where he led the
development of Red Hat Linux and key technologies such as RPM and Anaconda.
He is also the author of Linux Application Development. Erik holds B.S.
degrees in Computer Science and Computer Engineering from North Carolina
State University and a Masters degree in Economics from the University of
Virginia.

 

Prior to founding rPath, Billy served as Red Hat's Vice President of North
American Sales, during which time Red Hat's enterprise business experienced
extraordinary growth. Prior to his sales position, Billy conceived and
oversaw the launch of Red Hat Network, the platform that enabled Red Hat's
subscription revenue model. Billy holds an Engineering degree from Georgia
Tech as well as MS degrees in Management and Engineering from MIT.

 

Other key management additions include Keith Boswell as Vice President of
Marketing and Dave Welker as Director of Finance. 

 

About rPath

rPath provides rBuilder and rPath Linux, the first platform for creating and
maintaining software appliances. Using rPath's technology, application
developers can evolve their business from delivering an application to
providing a complete solution via software appliances. For customers,
software appliances bring the simplicity and value of Software as a Service
(SaaS) to on-premise application deployments. The company is headquartered
in Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, please visit:
<http://www.rpath.com/>>

 

About North Bridge Venture Partners

North Bridge Venture Partners is an active, early-stage venture capital fund
based in the Boston, Massachusetts area. Our definition of active,
early-stage investing is quite simple: more than capital is required to
achieve business success. For North Bridge, success is derived through a
partnership with entrepreneurs that produces industry leading companies in
large emerging markets. Historically, the firm's partners have played a
significant role in organizing, starting, and building successful companies.
For more information, please visit: http://www.nbvp.com

 
About General Catalyst Partners
General Catalyst Partners is a private equity firm that invests in
exceptional entrepreneurs and technical founders who are building the
software solution and technology platform companies that will lead
innovation and transform industries.  Founded in 2000, General Catalyst
Partners leverages its principals' extensive operational, business
development and technological expertise to provide portfolio companies with
a catalyst for success through business-building and partnership development
assistance. General Catalyst is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
For more information, please visit: http://www.generalcatalyst.com

 

 

Media Relation Contacts:

Kristi Lee                                                       

Crossroads Public Relations                               

919-844-3733                                                 

klee@crossroadspr.com                                    

Kristin Bear

Crossroads Public Relations

919-349-1856

kbear@crossroadspr.com