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§ Private Profile · Chicago, IL, USA
Object storage software and systems developer using dispersed storage for secure, large-scale unstructured data for enterprise customers.
Cleversafe is a Chicago, Illinois-based enterprise software company that develops object storage systems and dispersed storage technology to securely manage large-scale unstructured data in the petabyte-plus range. The organization provides its proprietary dsNet software alongside technical support and training services to enterprise clients operating across the telecommunications, sciences, energy, healthcare, government, and media sectors. Backed by institutional investors including OCA Ventures and In-Q-Tel, the business scaled its commercial operations under the leadership of chief executive John Morris. In November 2015, the company was acquired by IBM for a final valuation of $1.4 billion, a transaction that reportedly generated millionaire status for more than 80 of its local employees. Following the acquisition, the core technology was fully integrated and subsequently rebranded as IBM Cloud Object Storage. Cleversafe was founded in 2004 by Chris Gladwin.
Cleversafe has raised $97.0M across 4 funding rounds.
Cleversafe has raised $97.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Cleversafe has raised $97.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Cleversafe's investors include New Enterprise Associates, OCA Ventures, Upheaval, Peter Barris, Motorola Solutions Venture Capital.
Cleversafe is a Chicago-born data‑storage company that built a patented, distributed object‑storage system for hyperscale, exabyte‑class data stores and was acquired by IBM in 2015 for roughly $1.3–1.4 billion[4][9].
High‑Level Overview
Origin Story
Core Differentiators
Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
Quick Take & Future Outlook
Quick takeaway: Cleversafe is a pioneering object‑storage company founded by Chris Gladwin in 2004 that built a patent‑rich, distributed storage architecture for exabyte‑scale data, culminating in a transformative IBM acquisition in 2015 and lasting influence on both enterprise storage design and the Chicago startup ecosystem[2][6][9].
Cleversafe has raised $97.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $55.0M Series D in August 2013.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2013 | $55M Series D | NEW Enterprise Associates | OCA Ventures, Upheaval, Peter Barris | Announced |
| Oct 1, 2010 | $31M Series C | — | NEW Enterprise Associates, OCA Ventures, Upheaval, Peter Barris, Motorola Solutions Venture Capital | Announced |
| Nov 1, 2007 | $5M Series C | — | NEW Enterprise Associates, OCA Ventures, Upheaval, Peter Barris | Announced |
| Jan 1, 2007 | $6M Series B | — | NEW Enterprise Associates, OCA Ventures, Upheaval, Peter Barris | Announced |