Forward
2 known investors
Forward builds network modeling and management software that enables operators at large enterprises to understand, visualize, and troubleshoot complex network infrastructures. The platform serves telecommunications companies, financial institutions, government agencies, and other large organizations managing mission-critical networks.
Cloud ComputingCybersecurityEnterprise Software
Founders & leadership
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David EricksoninπCEO and Co-founderHe spent seven years as a graduate research assistant at Stanford University working on software-defined networking, with stints at Big Switch Networks and Cisco Research along the way. Before graduate school he worked as a software developer at CMC and consulted for Daily Dose Learning Systems, and in 2013 he taught and directed course content at SDN Academy.
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Nikhil HandigolinπChief AI Officer and Co-founderHe completed his doctoral research at Stanford University between 2008 and 2013, with earlier research stays at Cisco Systems, Carnegie Mellon University, and Strand Life Sciences. In 2013 he was a member of technical staff at ON.Lab and directed course content and instruction at SDN Academy.
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Brandon HellerinCTO and Co-founderHe conducted his graduate work in software-defined networking at Stanford and held engineering internships at Google, Hewlett-Packard, Emerson Motor Company, and Intelligent Automation. He also directed course content and instruction at SDN Academy in 2013 and serves as the company's CTO.
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Peyman KazemianinChief Architect and Co-founderHe was a research assistant and teaching assistant at Stanford University from 2007 to 2013, where his work focused on network verification, and interned with Google's networking research team as well as at Ericsson and Canon USA. In 2013 he also taught and directed course content at SDN Academy.
Investors Β· 2
Competitors Β· 1
by search overlapCompanies competing with Forward for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
In the news
Forward Financing lands $525m to boost SME lendingfintech.global Β· Jul 2026
Forward Financing $525 Million: VFN + ABS Deal Explainedfunderintel.com Β· Jul 2026Frequently asked questions
- What does Forward do?
- Forward builds network modeling and management software that enables operators at large enterprises to understand, visualize, and troubleshoot complex network infrastructures. The platform serves telecommunications companies, financial institutions, government agencies, and other large organizations managing mission-critical networks.
- Who founded Forward?
- Forward was founded by David Erickson, Nikhil Handigol, Brandon Heller, Peyman Kazemian.
- Who are Forward's investors?
- Forward's investors include A.Capital Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz.