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Good Technology, based in Sunnyvale, California, provided mobile security solutions for enterprises, specializing in managing and securing mobile devices, applications, and data in business environments. The company offered software for secure email, messaging, and containers, enabling robust bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies for over 5,000 organizations globally, spanning financial services, healthcare, and government sectors. Good Technology raised approximately $291 million in venture capital, including a $60 million round led by Riverwood Capital in 2013 and an additional $80 million in September 2014. Under CEO Christy Wyatt, the company initially pursued an IPO before being acquired by BlackBerry for $425 million in 2015. The acquisition led to post-settlement litigation regarding fiduciary duties in Delaware Court of Chancery. Good Technology originated in 2000.
Good Technology has raised $230.0M across 5 funding rounds.
Key people at Good Technology.
Good Technology was founded in 1996 by Trae Vassallo (Founder & Product Manager).
Good Technology has raised $230.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.
Good Technology has raised $230.0M across 5 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $50.0M Series U in April 2013.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2013 | $50M Series U | — | 01 Advisors, Andreessen Horowitz, BDC Venture Capital, Benchmark, Bond, CRV, DFJ, DST Global, Floodgate, Insight Partners, IVP, Kleiner Perkins, Lowercarbon Capital, Spark Capital, Sutter Hill Ventures, SV Angel, The HIT Forge, True Ventures, Union Square Ventures, Elon Musk, JOI ITO, TIM Ferriss | Announced |
| Sep 1, 2006 | $51M Series U | — | Bain Capital Ventures, BDC Venture Capital, DFJ, IVP, Mike O'dell, Peter Barris | Announced |
| Aug 1, 2005 | $70M Series U | — | Bain Capital Ventures, DFJ, IVP, Mike O'dell, Peter Barris | Announced |
| Jun 1, 2003 | $50M Series F | — | Alsop Louie Partners | Announced |
| Jul 1, 1998 | $9M Series C | — | Alsop Louie Partners | Announced |
Key people at Good Technology.
Good Technology was founded in 1996 by Trae Vassallo (Founder & Product Manager).
Good Technology has raised $230.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.
Good Technology's investors include 01 Advisors, Andreessen Horowitz, BDC Venture Capital, Benchmark, Bond, CRV, DFJ, DST Global, Floodgate, Insight Partners, IVP, Kleiner Perkins.
Good Technology was a mobile enterprise software company specializing in mobile device management (MDM) and secure mobile messaging solutions for businesses. It served enterprises needing to manage employee mobile devices securely, solving the problem of balancing corporate data protection with personal device usage amid the rise of smartphones. After multiple pivots and acquisitions, it was acquired by BlackBerry in 2015 for $425 million, marking the end of its independent operations as a 15-year-old private company that raised about $146 million in venture capital[1].
The company never achieved standalone public status despite IPO attempts, facing stiff competition from giants like SAP, IBM, Google, and VMware (which bought AirWatch for $1.54 billion). Its growth momentum peaked in the maturing MDM market but waned as it ran low on cash, leading to the sale that delivered strong returns to preferred investors ($250 million total, including $165.4 million to VCs) while common shareholders received around $40 million post-expenses[1].
Good Technology's journey began in 2000 as SpringThings, a hardware startup building an email-reader device that failed amid BlackBerry's dominance in enterprise mobility[1]. It pivoted to software, got acquired by Motorola in 2006, then sold to Visto in 2009—a firm that had secured over $260 million from BlackBerry in a patent settlement and retained the Good name[1].
Under this new structure, Good found its niche in enterprise mobile device management, directly competing with BlackBerry. Led by CEO Christy Wyatt, it navigated a competitive landscape but struggled as rivals were absorbed by tech giants. Pivotal moments included raising $146 million in VC funding and multiple turnaround attempts, culminating in the 2015 BlackBerry acquisition where Wyatt took home about $6 million and protected investor returns despite internal lawsuits from common shareholders[1].
Good Technology stood out in the crowded MDM space through resilience and enterprise focus, though it ultimately couldn't outpace consolidators:
Good Technology rode the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) trend exploding in the early 2010s, as smartphones disrupted enterprise IT and demanded secure management tools. Its timing aligned with BlackBerry's decline and Android/iOS rise, but market forces favored acquisitions by incumbents—SAP, IBM, Google, VMware—consolidating MDM into ecosystems[1].
The company influenced the ecosystem by validating standalone MDM viability (e.g., competitor MobileIron's IPO) and highlighting investor patience in pivots, but its sale underscored how independents struggled against giants. It exemplified 2000s-2010s mobility shifts, from hardware to cloud-managed security[1].
Post-2015 acquisition, Good Technology's tech integrated into BlackBerry's enterprise portfolio, evolving into modern unified endpoint management amid rising cybersecurity threats and remote work. Trends like zero-trust security, AI-driven threat detection, and 5G/edge computing will shape its legacy within BlackBerry, potentially fueling expansions in IoT and rugged device management.
Its influence may grow indirectly as BlackBerry leverages Good's MDM roots for government/enterprise wins, but as a standalone entity, it closes a chapter of scrappy reinvention—echoing its opening as a crushed hardware dreamer that delivered outsized VC returns through sheer persistence[1].
