Proximal Data, the leading provider of server-side caching solutions specifically designed for virtualized environments, today announced it has secured a $2 million series B round of funding, bringing its total funding to $5 million. Current investor Avalon Ventures is participating, with new investor Divergent Ventures leading the round. Divergent Ventures invests in early-stage companies with a focus on virtualization and storage and partners with them to help overcome market challenges.

Proximal Data will use the funds to increase its sales distribution channels and extend its current market success to include more global markets, as well as further advance the storage I/O caching capabilities of AutoCache, its fast virtual cache software.

"Proximal Data is leading the market with a server-side caching solution specifically designed to enable higher levels of server consolidation in virtualized environments by addressing limitations caused by I/O bottlenecks," said Rory Bolt, CEO of Proximal Data. "Only AutoCache offers the ability to employ multiple caching algorithms to determine which performs best at any given time to address the dynamic and changing nature of workloads in virtualized environments. This helps data center managers create a more efficient and productive virtualized environment without impacting IT operations."

Introduced in 2012, AutoCache eliminates I/O bottlenecks in virtualized servers with its adaptive I/O caching to increase virtual machine (VM) density up to three times with absolutely no impact on IT operations. AutoCache plugs easily into industry-leading hypervisors, such as VMware's ESXi, and transparently works on all I/O without requiring agents in guest operating systems. By placing hot I/O onto a PCIe flash card or SSD, AutoCache intelligently supplies priority data traffic to VMs.

"Proximal Data is in the sweet spot of virtualization and I/O throughput with strong technological leadership and an innovative approach to speeding up applications," said Kevin Ober, managing director, Divergent Ventures. "We look for leaders like Rory Bolt who identify ways to disrupt fast-growing markets and can lead talented engineering and sales teams to meet market demand."

"Proximal Data's technology is both groundbreaking and proven, given its significant market traction where customers have enjoyed performance gains with no change to their operational procedures or investments," said Steve Tomlin, managing director, Avalon Ventures. "We are confident that Proximal Data will continue to be the thought leader in the virtualized server-side caching market moving forward."

George Crump, president and founder of Storage Switzerland, an industry analyst firm, stated, "Proximal Data's AutoCache offers a simple implementation and precise coordination at the hypervisor level, allowing customers to see benefits immediately. By continuing to provide a fast, efficient caching solution that boosts VM efficiency without draining critical system resources or requiring additional hardware, Proximal Data stands to become an important player in this market."

Since its launch, Proximal Data has sold AutoCache to a global base of customers who have successfully used AutoCache to improve the performance of business-critical applications that are running in virtualized environments, realizing a tremendous return on their investment in AutoCache.

Additional Resources

Proximal Data AutoCache Data Sheet

Proximal Data AutoCache White Paper

Increasing VM Density With Server Side Caching: Proximal Data Briefing Report

Proximal Data AutoCache Video

Proximal Data AutoCache Tutorial

About Divergent Ventures

Divergent Ventures provides straightforward capital and advice for technical entrepreneurs. Divergent was founded in 2003 to make investments in early-stage storage, big data, infrastructure and cloud startups. In the technology startup world, the premium is on execution, not funding. Divergent's managing partners Rob Shurtleff, Kevin Ober and Todd Warren have experience founding, growing and selling technology startups. They connect portfolio companies with global influencers in servers, storage, database and networking technologies to help them recruit talent, engage customers, add investors, grow and access more exit options.

For more information, visit http://www.divergent.com/.

About Avalon Ventures

Avalon Ventures is a venture capital fund comprised of former entrepreneurs driven by passionate people pursuing disruptive ideas in ever-changing market environments. Avalon's long-standing and successful focus has been on seed and early-stage companies, including many it formed in the life science and information technology sectors. For more information, visit http://www.avalon-ventures.com/.

About Proximal Data

Proximal Data is the leading provider of server-side caching solutions specifically designed for virtualized environments. Proximal Data's AutoCache software can dramatically increase virtual machine density by eliminating I/O bottlenecks with adaptive I/O caching. When coupled with PCIe flash cards or SSDs from our partners, Proximal Data's fast virtual cache significantly improves the efficiency and performance of virtualized servers without disrupting IT operations or processes. www.proximaldata.com