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Forward Networks

Palo Alto, US · Founded 2013 · 271 employees on LinkedIn · 9 known investors

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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

Forward Networks was founded in 2013 by David Erickson, Nikhil Handigol, Brandon Heller, and Peyman Kazemian.

DEDavid Erickson
David EricksonCEO 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.
NHNikhil Handigol
Nikhil HandigolChief 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.
BHBrandon Heller
Brandon HellerCTO 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.
PKPeyman Kazemian
Peyman KazemianChief 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.

Board

ASAndreas Stavropoulos
Andreas StavropoulosBoard directorPartner at Threshold Ventures
LW
L. William KrauseBoard director

Investors · 9

A.Capital Ventureslisted by A.Capital VenturesSan Francisco

How we know: A.Capital Ventures's portfolio page · a partner's Signal profile · press coverage · the VCSheet dataset · Not right? Tell us

Andreessen Horowitzlisted by Andreessen HorowitzMenlo Park · $500K – $50M

How we know: a16z's portfolio · funding news · prnewswire.com · Not right? Tell us

S32listed by S32Palo Alto

How we know: S32's portfolio page · a partner's Signal profile · Not right? Tell us

Threshold Ventureslisted by Threshold VenturesPalo Alto · $500K – $20M

How we know: a partner's Signal profile · board seat on SEC Form D · funding news · prnewswire.com · Not right? Tell us

DFJreportedSan Mateo

How we know: press coverage · Not right? Tell us

Goldman SachsreportedNew York

How we know: funding news · prnewswire.com · Not right? Tell us

Omega Venture PartnersreportedSilicon Valley

How we know: a partner's Signal profile · funding news · forwardnetworks.com · Not right? Tell us

Section 32reportedPalo Alto

How we know: funding news · forwardnetworks.com · Not right? Tell us

Also in the syndicate · 1

A. Capital

Reported raises · per SEC filings

Form D private placements

$113M disclosed across 5 of 6 rounds · 2013–2023

▶$50MraisedJan 2023 · 12 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • L. William KrauseDirector
  • Victor HwangDirector
  • Brandon HellerDirector
  • Nikhil HandigolExecutive Officer
  • David EricksonExecutive Officer, Director
  • Joshua MatheusDirector
  • Andreas StavropoulosDirector
Offering amount
$50M
Amount sold
$50M
First sale
Dec 2022
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$35MraisedOct 2019 · 7 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • David EricksonExecutive Officer, Director
  • L. William KrauseDirector
  • Joshua MatheusDirector
  • Andreas StavropoulosDirector
  • Brandon HellerExecutive Officer, Director
Offering amount
$35M
Amount sold
$35M
First sale
Oct 2019
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$16MraisedFeb 2017 · 4 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Andreas StavropoulosDirector
  • L. William KrauseDirector
  • Brandon HellerExecutive Officer, Director
  • David EricksonExecutive Officer, Director
Offering amount
$16M
Amount sold
$16M
First sale
Feb 2017
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2013
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$11.1MraisedNov 2014 · 9 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Brandon HellerExecutive Officer, Director
  • David EricksonExecutive Officer, Director
  • L. William KrauseDirector
Offering amount
$11.2M
Amount sold
$11.1M
First sale
Oct 2014
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2013
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$825KraisedNov 2014 · 5 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • David EricksonExecutive Officer, Director
  • Brandon HellerExecutive Officer, Director
  • L. William KrauseDirector
Offering amount
$825K
Amount sold
$825K
First sale
Sep 2013
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2013
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.

Related companies · 3

CiscoCisco Systems designs and sells networking hardware, software, and services—including routers, switches, and cloud-based applications—to enterprise, service provider, and consumer markets globally.
CloudflareCloudflare provides a global cloud network platform delivering security, performance, and development services through sixty-plus integrated services including SASE, application security, and full-stack development infrastructure.
Palo Alto NetworksPalo Alto Networks provides cybersecurity platforms and services to protect organizations' digital infrastructure across cloud, network, and security operations. The company serves enterprise organizations, governments, financial institutions, utilities, and healthcare providers globally.

Companies working in the same space as Forward Networks.

In the news

Forward Networks raises $50M for math-based ‘digital twins’ of enterprise networks - www.forwardnetworks.comforwardnetworks.com · Jan 2023Forward Networks raises $50M for digital twin technology to help model, manage and secure complex enterprise networks - www.forwardnetworks.comforwardnetworks.com · Jan 2023Forward Networks Raises $50M in Series D Funding, Achieves 139% Year-over-Year Growth - www.forwardnetworks.comforwardnetworks.com · Jan 2023Forward Networks snags $35M in Series C funding round - www.forwardnetworks.comforwardnetworks.com · Oct 2019Forward Networks Raises $35 Million in Series C Fundingprnewswire.com · Oct 2019Forward Networks Raises $16 Million In Series B Financing And Unveils New Product Offering - www.forwardnetworks.comforwardnetworks.com · Aug 2017

Frequently asked questions

What does Forward Networks 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 Networks?
Forward Networks was founded by David Erickson, Nikhil Handigol, Brandon Heller, Peyman Kazemian in 2013.
Who are Forward Networks's investors?
Forward Networks's investors include A.Capital Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, S32, Threshold Ventures, DFJ, Goldman Sachs, Omega Venture Partners, Section 32.
How much funding has Forward Networks raised?
Forward Networks has disclosed $113M raised across 5 of its 6 known rounds.
Where is Forward Networks headquartered?
Forward Networks is headquartered in Palo Alto, US.