Loading organizations...
Barefoot Networks has raised $154.0M across 4 funding rounds.
Key people at Barefoot Networks.
Barefoot Networks has raised $154.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Barefoot Networks is a Santa Clara, California-based semiconductor company that designs and manufactures programmable network switch silicon and software for data center networking. The firm's flagship Tofino application-specific integrated circuits utilize the open-source P4 programming language to process network packets at speeds of up to 6.5 terabits per second. This hardware enables hyperscale cloud service providers and telecommunications operators to fully customize packet forwarding at the data-plane level without sacrificing operational speed. The company supplied its advanced networking equipment to major technology corporations, including hyperscale data center operators like Facebook. Prior to its eventual acquisition by Intel in 2019, the enterprise raised over $150 million in venture funding from prominent financial backers including Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz. Barefoot Networks was founded in 2013 by Nick McKeown, Martin Izzard, Pat Bosshart, and Dan Lenoski.
Key people at Barefoot Networks.
Barefoot Networks is a technology company specializing in programmable networking hardware and software for high-performance data centers. It develops P4-programmable Ethernet switch ASICs like the Tofino family, along with network telemetry solutions such as Deep Insight, serving cloud computing, hyperscale providers, and internet services that require flexible, high-speed networking infrastructure.[1][2][4] These products solve the problem of rigid, fixed-function switches by enabling end-user programmability for custom packet processing, telemetry, and computational networking, addressing the dynamic needs of modern data centers.[2][3][4] Founded in 2013 and acquired by Intel in 2019 for an undisclosed amount after raising $81.35M, Barefoot's growth culminated in integration into Intel's data-centric portfolio, scaling to 7nm technology for 6.4–12.8 Tbit/s switches supporting 400G links.[1][2][4]
Barefoot Networks was founded in 2013 in Palo Alto (later Santa Clara), California, by Dr. Craig Barratt and a team of experts in networking silicon and software.[1][4] The idea emerged from the need for programmable data paths in high-speed Ethernet switches, pioneering P4 (a domain-specific language for programming protocol-independent packet processors) to make networks as flexible as software-defined servers.[2][3][5] Early traction came from innovations like in-band network telemetry, demonstrated and productized as Deep Insight, which instrumented networks for visibility—a first in the industry.[2] Pivotal momentum built through Tofino ASIC development, leading to Intel's acquisition in June 2019 to bolster its data center group with Barefoot's expertise in cloud architectures and switch silicon.[1][4]
Barefoot rides the data-centric computing trend, where hyperscale clouds demand programmable infrastructure for AI, 5G, and edge workloads amid exploding data volumes.[2][4] Timing was ideal post-2013, as P4 gained traction and Ethernet fabrics challenged proprietary networking, aligning with Intel's vision for end-to-end cloud solutions.[4] Market forces like 400G+ speeds, telemetry for optimization, and Open RAN automation favor its tech, influencing the ecosystem by accelerating Ethernet adoption in data centers and inspiring competitors like Arrcus and CodiLime in programmable networking.[1][2] Post-acquisition, it amplifies Intel's connectivity leadership, enabling fabrics that power global cloud innovation.[4]
Intel's Barefoot integration positions it to dominate programmable Ethernet for AI-driven data centers, with Tofino evolution likely targeting 800G+ and deeper AI/ML telemetry synergies.[2][4] Trends like disaggregated networking and zero-trust security will shape its path, evolving influence toward unified compute-network fabrics. As clouds scale, Barefoot's programmability remains the edge in flexible, high-speed infrastructure—cementing its role from startup innovator to foundational tech enabler.[2][4]
Barefoot Networks has raised $154.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Barefoot Networks's investors include Alibaba, Tom Bie, Atlantic Bridge University Fund, Dell Technologies Capital, Primitive Ventures, Arash Ferdowsi, Emmett Shear, Goldman Sachs, Google, Altimeter Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Ballistic Ventures.
Barefoot Networks has raised $154.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $23.0M Series C in November 2016.
