Bigleaf Networks

Bigleaf Networks is a Beaverton, Oregon-based networking company that delivers redundant, high-performance internet connectivity over commodity broadband and wireless circuits. Its platform applies SD-WAN principles to improve the reliability and performance of cloud and SaaS applications, giving customers a plug-and-play way to combine multiple ISP connections with automatic failover, load balancing and traffic re-routing. The company positions its current offering as Bigleaf Cloud Connect, a wireless-first approach that optimizes cloud, SaaS and AI application performance in real time.

The service monitors each circuit ten times per second and adapts quality-of-service and routing before failures affect users, and it controls both inbound and outbound traffic rather than only the customer edge. Deployment does not require network re-architecture or policy rewrites and works with existing ISPs and firewalls. A management dashboard provides multi-company, multi-site and per-device views along with analytics and real-time metrics on network health. Bigleaf also markets controls for metered connectivity, including data cap enforcement, overage avoidance and visibility across satellite, cellular and other metered circuits, and offers 24/7/365 customer support.

Founding story

The company was founded in 2012 by Joel Mulkey, who serves as CEO, with Jeff Burchett as co-founder and VP of Sales. The Bigleaf name refers to the vein structure of plant leaves, where nutrient flow reroutes around damaged veins — an analogy for redirecting internet traffic around outages and slowdowns.

Business model

Bigleaf sells a managed intelligent networking service that layers over customers' existing internet circuits, combined with support; it is distributed largely through partners rather than direct-only sales.

Recurring revenue from its networking service, with the company reporting a 95% annual renewal rate as of 2019.

Traction

As of the September 2019 Series B announcement, Bigleaf reported more than 1,000 customers, a 95% annual renewal rate, and a tripling of recurring revenue and team size since January 2018. Published case studies include Computer Network, Inc. (CNI), which used Bigleaf to reduce the impact of network outages for utility companies.

Latest developments

The company's current positioning centers on Bigleaf Cloud Connect, a wireless-first offering for optimizing cloud, SaaS and AI application performance, and on controls for metered connectivity such as overage elimination, data cap enforcement and real-time visibility across satellite, cellular and metered circuits.