Israeli tech startup Quali first announced it would open an office in Austin back in 2018. Now, with a new venture capital investment in hand, the company is calling the Texas capital its North American headquarters.
Quali announced Jan. 19 it has raised a $54 million funding round led by Israel-based investment firms Greenfield Partners and Jerusalem Venture Partners. That adds to the roughly $60 million the company had raised since its founding by Alex Ackerman and Moshe Moskovitch in 2004. In 2008, Ackerman stepped down from his role as CEO and the company named Lior Koriat as its chief executive.
Quali's software platform helps developers test and deploy apps and other products in the cloud. Its flagship product, CloudShell, helps teams create replicated full-stack tech environments to test products. In essence, it simplifies a process typically handled by someone with expertise in cloud automation. Its customers include Dell, Microsoft, Cisco and Verizon.
“Development teams are burdened by the time and complexity of setting up and operating cloud infrastructure. Quali empowers developers to develop, testers to test, planners to plan, and ops to operate by offering safe and productive access to hybrid cloud infrastructure," Koriat said in an announcement. “Since Quali’s most recent funding in 2018, the company experienced rapid growth in sales, platform innovation, and expanded its own workforce globally.”
The startup plans to use the financial influx to develop new products, add customers and expand its teams in Austin and Tel Aviv, as well as other offices in California, Europe and Asia. Meanwhile, Greenfield Partners Managing Partner Shay Grinfeld will join Quali's board.
Quali has about 130 employees globally, and it plans to grow to about 200 with many new hires for sales, marketing, customer training and more in Austin. A company spokesman declined to say how many employees are currently in Austin.
