LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–July 14, 2003–
Award-winning data warehousing software provider enhances business
model to fuel expansion in US and Europe
Kalido, the data warehousing and data management software provider, has raised substantial funds from Atlas Venture and Benchmark Capital to finance new business growth. The software provider has also been spun off by its former parent, the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies (Shell). In addition, Kalido has named Bob Potter, formerly of IONA Technologies, as its new chief executive officer, as announced separately today.
Atlas Venture and Benchmark Capital have each acquired a substantial stake in Kalido. Their funding and investment will help accelerate Kalido’s growth in the business intelligence and data warehousing market in the United States and Europe as well as expedite new product development. Kalido will also benefit from their expertise in accelerating the international growth of technology companies, which will complement its existing expansion strategy.
By investing in Kalido, the venture capital firms acknowledge its strong growth potential, based on its unparalleled product offering and roadmap, employee talent, blue chip client base, and market demand. Kalido’s global clientele spans the banking, retailing, manufacturing, petroleum/energy, management consulting, and satellite communications sectors. Nearly 70 per cent of its customers feature in the Forbes 500 International List, including Shell, Philips, Unilever, Cadbury Schweppes and HBOS plc.
The company’s award-winning software, the KALIDO(TM) Dynamic Information Warehouse, is an application for the creation, management and global coordination of data warehouses. The application can provide consistent management information in even the most complex multinational enterprise as, unlike traditional data warehousing, it assumes that the business model is always changing.
The KALIDO software is currently deployed in over 30 major projects and is in production use in over 100 countries. It was originally developed within Shell in the mid 1990s and then brought to the world stage through the launch of Kalido in 2001.
Andy Hayler, the founder of Kalido, who continues as its chief strategist, noted: “This is the next logical step in the long-term business plan for the successful evolution of Kalido. We will continue to focus on the needs of our rapidly expanding customer base, while retaining Shell as a very significant customer.”
Bob Potter said: “The deal marks a significant milestone in Kalido’s goal to become the leading vendor of cutting-edge data warehousing and data management software to support business intelligence and performance management. Our near-term objectives include continued investment in our product portfolio and expanding our operations. I look forward to guiding Kalido’s growth, particularly in the United States.”
Christopher Spray, senior principal, Atlas Venture, said: “Kalido’s software helps large companies improve business performance. This has never been more relevant than in today’s climate of unprecedented change. In a short period of time the company has achieved a remarkable list of blue chip customers, and we look forward to supporting their further expansion through our network of offices in the US and Europe.”
George Coelho, general partner, Benchmark Capital, added: “Kalido has a potent mix of employee talent, unparalleled product offering in a robust business intelligence market, and strong client list. In short, we believe Kalido has all the ingredients for long term success.”
Further comments on the deal:
Alan Matula, OP CIO of Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd, a customer of Kalido, said: “Shell Oil Products, worldwide fuels and lubricants businesses within the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies, see the KALIDO application as critical to their business operations and performance.”
Clive Mather, chairman, Shell UK Limited, said: “As Kalido’s incubator, it has been exciting for the Royal Dutch / Shell Group of Companies to see the software provider’s business grow to the robust business model and impressive client list it has today. Kalido has the resounding endorsement and ongoing commitment from Shell businesses around the world who continue to use their data warehousing and data management software. We wish Kalido every success.”
Nick White, VP Information Architecture at Unilever, one of Kalido’s customers, said: “We have worked closely with Kalido to achieve a substantial improvement in Unilever’s global provision of information. This announcement marks an important phase in the company’s evolution and we look forward to continuing to work closely with Kalido.”
Barry Wilderman, senior vice president and director, META Group, said: “As enterprises struggle to achieve clarity of business performance through change, there is a growing market requirement for information integration software that provides accurate and timely analysis of data. Vendors with technology that handles continuously changing business dimensions will have a distinct advantage in solving this complex problem.”
Frank Buytendijk, research vice president, Gartner Inc., said: “With the coming of the Real-time Enterprise, the need for speedy, integrated and coordinated management information throughout the enterprise has never been so apparent. A flexible, agile data warehouse infrastructure is virtually an imperative in successfully deploying business intelligence.”
About Atlas Venture
Atlas Venture is a leading international early-stage venture capital firm, investing in communications, information technology and life sciences companies. With offices in Boston, London, Munich and Paris, Atlas Venture divides its investments between the United States and Europe. Founded in 1980, Atlas Venture currently manages US$ 2.1 billion in committed capital. The Atlas Venture investment team is comprised of seasoned operating executives and career venture capitalists who have been deeply involved in the formation and development of more than 300 companies worldwide. Software investments have included Business Objects, Spotfire, Element 14, eRoom Technology, Revit Technologies, and SpeechWorks. For more information about Atlas Venture, go to www.atlasventure.com.
About Benchmark Capital
Benchmark Capital was founded in 1995 with the mission of helping talented entrepreneurs build major technology enterprises focused on long-term growth. Benchmark takes a labor-intensive, team-oriented approach to venture investing in order to deliver a superior level of service to its portfolio companies. Benchmark’s portfolio includes franchise companies such as Ariba (Nasdaq: ARBA), eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY), Handspring (Nasdaq: HAND), Juniper Networks (Nasdaq: JNPR) and Red Hat (Nasdaq: RHAT). Managing more than US$ 2 billion in committed venture capital, Benchmark focuses on early-stage investing in markets where the partners have direct, relevant experience. For more information on Benchmark, visit its web site at www.benchmark.com.
About Kalido
Kalido provides data warehousing and data management software to improve performance management of complex, diverse organizations throughout business change. The KALIDO Dynamic Information Warehouse software is used in over 100 countries by multi-nationals such as the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies (Shell), Unilever, Philips and Cadbury Schweppes. Originally established by Shell, Kalido has operations in the United States and Europe delivering sales, consulting services, technical support and training. Kalido works closely with large system integrators for the deployment of projects. Kalido’s website is at http://www.kalido.com.
