Startup profile · funding coverage
Barefoot Networks funding, valuation and investors
Programmable Ethernet switch ASICs and P4 networking software for data centers.
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Funding, valuation & investors
Answer-first snapshotLatest funding
Series C
$57M · 2016
Latest known valuation
Not publicly disclosed
Total disclosed equity funding
$212M
Excludes debt, grants, acquisitions, secondaries, and IPO proceeds.
Current status
acquired
acquired · Santa Clara, California
Investors in latest funding
Other: Andreessen Horowitz
Overview
Barefoot Networks built the Tofino programmable Ethernet switch ASIC and P4 (Programming Protocol-independent Packet Processors) language tooling, letting data center operators customize packet processing in hardware. Intel acquired Barefoot in June 2019 to strengthen its networking portfolio.
Why Barefoot Networks is interesting
Barefoot pioneered P4-programmable switching — a16z and Sequoia backed Nick McKeown's Stanford team before Intel acquired it in 2019.
Product & use cases
Barefoot Networks built the Tofino programmable Ethernet switch ASIC and P4 (Programming Protocol-independent Packet Processors) language tooling, letting data center operators customize packet processing in hardware.
- Primary product use case per company site
- Enterprise or consumer deployment
Key facts
- Acquired by Intel (Jun 2019): P4/Tofino programmable switching (TechCrunch)
- Series C (2016): $57M+ with Google, Goldman Sachs; a16z, Sequoia, Lightspeed in prior rounds
- Raised ~$155M total; founded by Nick McKeown (Stanford networking researcher)
- Product: Tofino ASIC + P4 language for programmable data center switches
Funding history (newest first)
Series C
2016 $57MSource: Series C (2016): $57M+ with Google, Goldman Sachs; a16z, Sequoia, Lightspeed in prior rounds
Unknown
Stanford networking researcher $155MSource: Raised ~$155M total; founded by Nick McKeown (Stanford networking researcher)
Investors in our directory
Funds linked from Barefoot Networks's profile — open a fund page for stage focus and related deal articles.
Competitive landscape
Edge: Barefoot pioneered P4-programmable switching — a16z and Sequoia backed Nick McKeown's Stanford team before Intel acquired it in 2019.
Barefoot Networks competes in infra-cloud, hardware-semiconductors. Incumbents have distribution; startup edge depends on product depth and buyer references. See competitors for specific tradeoffs — no invented market share claims.
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AWS incumbent
Cloud infrastructure incumbent.
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Cloudflare adjacent
Edge/cloud platform.
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Intel incumbent
Semiconductor incumbent.
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Broadcom incumbent
Networking silicon.
Notable stories
- Acquired by Intel (Jun 2019): P4/Tofino programmable switching (TechCrunch)
- Raised ~$155M total; founded by Nick McKeown (Stanford networking researcher)
Industries
Related funding articles
Venture Capital Tracker pieces that cover Barefoot Networks's financing or category context.
FAQs about Barefoot Networks
Practical answers founders, operators, and investors typically search for.
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