Alkira Cloud Services Exchange Earns the Makers $54 Million in Series B Funding

The makers of Alkira Cloud Services Exchange™ (CSX), Alkira have raised $54 million Series B. The new funding for the fully managed On-demand Multi-Cloud providers would enable business transformation in the coming months. In recent months, the Alkira Network Cloud have offered a dramatic simplification and agility across hybrid and multi-cloud networks with integrated network and security services. Led by Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT) with participation from Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins, GV (formerly Google Ventures), and others, the new funding will be used to scale the company to meet global market demand for the Alkira Cloud Services Exchange™(CSX).

Alkira was founded by CEO Amir Khan, founder and former CEO of Viptela, and Atif Khan, CTO, who was VP of Integrated Solutions and a member of the Viptela founding team. Alkira has raised $76M from Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins, Koch Disruptive Technologies, LLC, and GV Capital (formerly Google Ventures).

What is Alkira Cloud Services Exchange™(CSX)

Alkira CSX is the first and only global network cloud that is delivered as-a-service. It offers a consistent and dramatically simplified networking experience for on-premises, cloud, and multi-cloud environments with integrated network and security services, and full operational visibility and governance.

Alkira is the industry’s only solution with single-click provisioning of the global multi-cloud network and network services. 

With Alkira, your entire end-to-end network is drawn on a digital design canvas, provisioned in 1-click, and ready for use in minutes. No hardware to procure, no software to download, and no cloud to learn. Alkira extends your enterprise infrastructure into the cloud and is a trusted solution for leading global Enterprises, system integrators, and managed service providers.

Network Cloud will be more disruptive than SD-WAN

The Alkira CSX is a Network Cloud, a global unified network infrastructure delivered as-a-service with

1) connectivity for hybrid and multi-cloud networks;

2) integrated network and security services;

3) end-to-end operational visibility and governance.

Executive Insights

“Koch Industries is a significant customer to cloud providers, and we have seen first-hand how Alkira’s powerful and intuitive network simplifies a company’s transition to the cloud,” said Chase Koch, president of Koch Disruptive Technologies. “At Koch’s scale an agile, global, end-to end network is critical to our competitiveness and growth and we are excited to lead Alkira’s Series B investment.”

“Amir and Atif Khan have an unmatched track record, team, and architecture for the Network Cloud, which we believe will be more disruptive than SD-WAN,” said Jason Illian, Managing Director of Koch Disruptive Technologies. “We see a changing business model as companies recognize the value in moving to a network on demand. In Koch’s case, Alkira’s technology has allowed the company to execute its cloud networking operations in days or just hours from what used to be six to 18 months.”

“Alkira has seen a tremendous response from customers and technology and GTM partners to deploy and deliver the Alkira Network Cloud. We are honored to have our Series B led by Koch, an early customer who deployed Alkira Cloud Services Exchange™ (CSX) and shares our vision to transform networking,” said Amir Khan, President, CEO and founder of Alkira. “Koch has entrusted Alkira to rebuild their cloud network backbone and expand their network infrastructure to multi-cloud. We are delighted to welcome Jason Illian to our Board, and to receive the ongoing support from Sequoia, Kleiner Perkins, and GV on this exciting journey.”

Koch Disruptive Technologies is an investment firm and a subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc., which is an Alkira customer and one of the largest private companies in America. Koch has an estimated annual revenue of $115 billion according to Forbes, with 130,000+ employees in 70+ countries, across dozens of industries. KDT invests in emerging high-growth technologies across a range of industries that improve Koch’s core capabilities, as well as those that reinvent markets and create entirely new platforms poised to change the world. Jason Illian, Managing Director of KDT, will join Alkira’s Board of Directors.

Alkira Board of Directors:

• Amir Khan, President, CEO, Chairman and Founder at Alkira
• Atif Khan, CTO and Founder at Alkira
• Bill Coughran, Partner at Sequoia
• Mamoon Hamid, Partner at Kleiner Perkins
• Jason Illian, Managing Director at Koch Disruptive Technologies, LLC

Koch Industries will join Alkira for the Keynote Presentation at ONUG Fall 2020:
“Koch Industries Deploys Alkira for their Cloud Networking Journey,” with Koch Industries Senior Enterprise Architect Matt Hoag and Alkira CEO and Founder Amir Khan. Email onugfall2020@Alkira.com to schedule a 1:1 briefing or receive a free pass to ONUG to hear this and other Alkira presentations.

Alkira® developed the Network Cloud that allows Enterprises to build and deploy a global hybrid or multi-cloud network as-a-service in minutes. Alkira Cloud Services Exchange™ (CSX) delivers network connectivity, advanced services with complete governance, and is so intuitive and simple to build and operate that no training or certification is needed.

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