Nerdio, a platform aimed at simplifying the deployment and management of Microsoft cloud technologies for companies, has secured $500 million in Series C funding. The startup, based in Chicago, reported that its valuation has quadrupled since its Series B round two years ago, entering unicorn status, although it did not disclose a specific valuation figure.
Nerdio’s Chief Revenue Officer, Joseph Landes, stated via email to TechCrunch, “We are not disclosing the specific valuation, but it is north of $1 billion.”
In 2020, Nerdio was established as a spin-off from an “IT-as-a-service” company named Adar, which came under private equity ownership, while Nerdio emerged as a cloud management service provider catering to clients such as PayPal, Sony, and Comcast.
Targeting organizations that aim to optimize their cloud infrastructure and costs, Nerdio offers services like the Nerdio Manager for Enterprise. This service assists businesses in handling Microsoft’s Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows applications across their workforce, automating tasks associated with cloud infrastructure and virtual desktop management. This includes user provisioning, application deployment, and cost-optimization features like auto-scaling resources based on demand.
Virtual desktops, which operate on remote servers instead of physical computers, enable users to access their applications, files, and configurations on any device via the internet. Nerdio promotes a modern, cloud-native approach compared to traditional legacy providers like Citrix, which predate the cloud computing boom.
This innovation is especially relevant as remote and hybrid working environments become more prevalent, allowing secure access to work from any location.
Landes further explained, “Managing cloud environments is complex and costly — it typically requires a lot of specialized technical expertise and a mix of costly, siloed tools. Nerdio provides a single, comprehensive platform that allows organizations to manage their Microsoft cloud environments without the need for extra skills, tools, or workflows.”
Nerdio’s prior funding includes an $8 million Series A round in 2020, followed by a $117 million Series B tranche three years later. In the latest $500 million funding round, U.S. growth equity firm General Atlantic, along with Lead Edge Capital and Stepstone, have acquired a minority stake in the company.
The company did not reveal the ownership percentages among its investors but noted that the founders still hold a significant stake.
The new investment is intended to enhance Nerdio’s product offerings across key Microsoft services such as Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, and Microsoft 365. Additionally, Nerdio aims to increase its workforce, which currently numbers 300 employees. “We plan to grow that number significantly as we scale our global presence and build customer support and engineering teams,” Landes added.
