Emerging Networking And Unified Communications Vendors To Know In 2019

As part of CRN's Emerging Vendors for 2019, here are nine hot networking and unified communications startups, founded in 2013 or later, that solution providers should be aware of.

The New Generation Of Networking And Unified Communications Leaders

As corporate IT architectures evolve beyond the data center, becoming highly dispersed collections of on-premise, hybrid cloud and multi-cloud compute and data storage systems, the network technology that links all those systems becomes increasingly critical.

It's no surprise there is a new generation of startups developing leading-edge SD-WAN, 5G wireless and intent-based networking technology, platforms for building and managing hybrid cloud networks, and tools for delivering and managing networked applications across dispersed IT systems.

As part of CRN's 2019 Emerging Vendors list, here are nine hot networking and unified communications startups, all founded in 2013 or later, that solution providers should be aware of.

128 Technology

Founded: 2014

Top Executive: Andrew Ory, Founder, CEO

128 Technology's system changes the way networks work to better deliver applications and services. The 128T Networking Platform uses distributed, software-defined routing to help businesses and service providers build service-centric fabrics that boost networking simplicity, security, agility, performance and savings.

Apstra

Founded: 2014

Top Executive: Mansour Karam, Founder, CEO

Apstra's Intent-Based Data Center Automation system increases application availability and reliability, simplifies deployment and operations, and reduces costs for enterprises, cloud service providers and telecom data centers. The product incorporates intent-based networking, distributed system architecture and vendor-agnostic overlay technology.

Aviatrix Systems

Founded: 2014

Top Executive: Steve Mullaney, CEO

Aviatrix Systems offers a portfolio of products for building hybrid cloud networks—what the company calls the multi-cloud backbone—including its software-defined cloud routing system, firewall network service, encryption service, controller software and more.

Cato Networks

Founded: 2015

Top Executive: Shlomo Kramer, Co-Founder, CEO

Enterprise networking and security provider Cato Networks offers a cloud service that integrates edge SD-WAN, global network backbone and network security services. The company secured a $55 million funding round in January after growing its bookings more than 350 percent in 2018.

CloudGenix

Founded: 2013

Top Executive: Kumar Ramachandran, CEO

SD-WAN technology startup CloudGenix has reported 300 percent year-over-year growth, despite competing against a number of big vendors including Cisco Systems and VMware. In April the company raised $65 million in Series C financing, some of which is being applied to expand the company's channel operations.

Field Engineer

Founded: 2015

Top Executive: Malik Zakaria, Founder, CEO

Field Engineer provides an online marketplace that connects businesses with contract jobs with engineers who have the skills and availability to complete those jobs. The platform incorporates sophisticated algorithms, artificial intelligence technology and mobile applications.

NetElastic Systems

Founded: 2016

Top Executive: Weixiao Liu, CEO

NetElastic offers a high-performance virtual (software) routing platform that runs on x86 hardware. The company sells two product families based on the platform: a virtual BNG for carriers and service providers, and an SD-WAN line for enterprise IT that includes branch routers, SD-WAN hubs and a feature-rich management platform.

SnapRoute

Founded: 2015

Top Executive: Dom Wilde, CEO

SnapRoute provides a cloud-native network operating system that's built on a containerized, microservice architecture with built-in Kubernetes. The SnapRoute CN-NOS accelerates application deployment, offers enhanced security and compliance, simplifies operations and provides superior economics.

Teridion

Founded: 2014

Top Executive: Saar Gillai, CEO

Teridion's cloud WAN service extends the benefits of cloud computing to enterprise networking with fast setup, horizontal scale, global reach and unbounded bandwidth. Teridion's network radically improves site-to-site performance and access to all SaaS applications and cloud workloads—all across regular broadband—and includes a carrier-grade SLA.