Centeris Secures $11.5 Million in Financing from Leading VCs Including Trinity Ventures and Intel Capital
BELLEVUE, Wash. - Mar. 22, 2006 - Centeris Corporation, a pioneer in developing software for easy management of Linux® servers in a Microsoft® Windows® network, today announced it has raised more than $11.5 million in Series B financing from leading venture capital firms, including co-leads Trinity Ventures and Intel Capital. Existing investor Ignition Partners also participated in the round. The series B funding will be used to expand sales and marketing activities and to fund future product development activities.
"With the strength of its management team and business model, plus the proven market opportunity for mixed network management solutions, Centeris represents an excellent investment for Trinity," said Tim McAdam, Trinity Ventures general partner. "Less than 60 days after the launch of Likewise 1.0, we've already seen tremendous interest in this product."
The Centeris Likewise Management Suite is the first server management solution to seamlessly integrate Linux servers in a Windows network. The Likewise solution simplifies configuration of Linux servers, provides Windows-based tools for day-to-day server management and improves compatibility between Windows and Linux.
"Integration of Linux and Windows servers is a critical issue as more and more organizations take advantage of mixed operating system environments," said Dirk Hohndel, Director of Linux and Open Source Strategy for Intel. "The Centeris Likewise Management Suite offers customers a solution to simplify administration and extend management tools for these mixed configurations."
Centeris launched Likewise 1.0 in the United States and Europe in mid-January. The company confirmed that interest in the product has been significant, with more than 1,000 companies participating in its beta evaluation program over the last few months.
"Over the last several months we've reached a number of critical milestones," said Barry Crist, CEO of Centeris. "We launched our company in the fall, conducted a highly successful beta evaluation program, closed our first paying customers, launched Likewise 1.0 across the U.S. and Europe, and introduced a new open source project. We're extremely pleased to see that momentum continue, and we're excited to have this opportunity to work with outstanding VC partners like Intel and Trinity."
About Trinity Ventures
Founded in 1986, Trinity Ventures is a value-added investor that provides capital, networks and resources to early-stage software, services, communications and networked systems companies. With more than $1 billion under management, Trinity Ventures has invested in over 100 companies, including Extreme Networks, Network Alchemy, Crescendo Communications, Forte Software, Illustra, Blue Nile and Starbucks. Trinity Ventures has offices in Menlo Park. For more information, visit trinityventures.com.
About Intel Capital
Intel Capital, Intel''s venture capital organization, makes equity investments in innovative technology start-ups worldwide. Intel Capital invests in a broad range of companies offering hardware, software, and services targeting enterprise, home, mobility, health, and semiconductor manufacturing.
Since 1991, Intel Capital has invested more than US$4 billion in over 1,000 companies spanning 30+ countries. During this time, about 160 portfolio companies have been acquired and another 150 have gone public on exchanges around the world. In 2005, Intel Capital invested about US$265 million in about 140 deals, with approximately 60% of funds invested outside the U.S.
For more information, visit intelcapital.com.
About Centeris
Centeris solutions give customers the freedom to choose the server platform best suited to their business needs. Our flagship product, Centeris Likewise, makes it easy for midsized and enterprise companies running Microsoft® Windows® networks to configure and manage Linux® servers. Likewise provides familiar Windows-based management tools and improved integration of Windows and Linux servers, helping companies achieve the full benefits of running mixed networks. Centeris Corporation is a Bellevue, WA-based software company funded by leading venture capital firms Ignition Partners, Intel Capital, and Trinity Ventures. Centeris is led by senior executives from leading technology companies such as Microsoft, F5 Networks, EMC and Mercury. For more information, visit centeris.com. |