[ibimage==32066==Original==none==self==ibimage_align-center]
The Austin development startup StackEngine has emerged from stealth in a big way, garnering $1M in funding and presenting itself as part of an increasingly popular container solution — a means of easily and efficiently moving applications where they need to go.
The open-source project Docker helps create Linux containers and has become wildly popular among developers. This year, it gathered $40 million in funding of its own. StackEngine provides operations and IT staff an easy way to manage Docker containers.
“We saw most of the important activity was helping developers move forward with Docker, but there was no set of tools and solutions oriented with a modern approach to management,” said cofounder Bob Quillin in a statement.
Docker's sudden rise has brought with it a buzzing market for management solutions. Another startup, Shippable, has already jumped in. The system provides much more power, which calls for control and automation on the operations side. StackEngine distinguishes itself in an increasingly crowded market with these needed management tools.
“Virtualization was the predecessor,” said Eric Anderson, cofounder and veteran of VMWare, in an interview. “Docker is potentially the next VMware. Just as an ecosystem evolved around helping operations around virtualization, we saw the same ingredients now brewing for the Docker ecosystem.”
Currently in 'private alpha,' StackEngine plans to use this cash infusion to expand its user base, go beta, and launch a product in time for Christmas. The funding comes from LiveOak Venture Partners and Silverton Partners.
“We believe that StackEngine has identified a key pain point with a compelling new technology,” said Kip McClanahan of Silverton Partners in a statement. “StackEngine is entering this emerging market at its flash point. While Docker looks to be the heir apparent to VMware, it lacks the requisite operations management and automation tools to break into the enterprise. That’s why we bet on the experience of the StackEngine team to lead the way forward.”
