Nerdio, a platform designed to streamline the deployment and management of Microsoft cloud technologies for companies, has secured $500 million in a Series C funding round. Based in Chicago, the startup reports that its valuation has quadrupled since the Series B funding round two years prior, now marking its entry into unicorn status. However, the company has not provided a specific valuation figure.
According to Nerdio’s Chief Revenue Officer Joseph Landes, the valuation surpasses $1 billion, as stated in an email to TechCrunch. Nerdio emerged from an “IT-as-a-service” company called Adar in 2020, with Adar coming under private equity ownership. Since then, Nerdio has pursued a dedicated path as a cloud management service provider, serving notable clients such as PayPal, Sony, and Comcast.
Nerdio aims to assist companies in optimizing their cloud infrastructure deployments and costs. Through its product, Nerdio Manager for Enterprise, the company facilitates management of Microsoft’s Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows applications across businesses. It automates numerous tasks related to cloud infrastructure and virtual desktop management, including user-provisioning and application deployment. Additionally, it offers cost-optimization features, such as auto-scaling resources to align with demand.
Virtual desktops, which operate on remote servers rather than physical computers, enable users to access applications, files, and configurations on any device via the internet. Nerdio advocates for a modern, cloud-native approach, distinct from legacy providers such as Citrix, which began operations before the cloud computing revolution.
This development is particularly relevant as more people adopt remote and hybrid work environments, allowing secure access to work resources from any location. Landes emphasized that managing cloud environments is typically complex and costly, requiring significant technical expertise and diverse, expensive tools. Nerdio, however, offers a comprehensive platform that enables organizations to manage Microsoft cloud environments without additional skills, tools, or workflows.
Previously, Nerdio raised $8 million in a Series A round in 2020, followed by a $117 million Series B round three years later. The latest $500 million funding includes investments from U.S. growth equity firm General Atlantic, with Lead Edge Capital and Stepstone securing a minority stake in the company.
While Nerdio has not disclosed ownership percentages among its various investors, it noted that the founders maintain a significant stake in the company. Going forward, Nerdio plans to use the investment to enhance its product offerings, focusing on key Microsoft services such as Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, and Microsoft 365. Additionally, the company aims to expand its current workforce of 300 employees significantly as it scales its global presence and builds customer support and engineering teams, according to Landes.
