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{{Short description|Artificial intelligence company}}

{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = VAST Data
| name = VAST Data
| logo = Vast logo.png
| logo = VAST_Data_logo.svg
| logo_size =
| logo_size =
| image =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| image_caption =
| type = [[Privately held company]]
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| industry = [[Computer data storage|Data storage]]
| industry = [[Computer Software]]
| fate =
| fate =
| foundation = {{start date and age|2016|01}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|2016|01}}
| founder = Renen Hallak
| founders = {{Unbulleted list | Renen Hallak | Shachar Fienblit | Jeff Denworth}}
Shachar Fienblit
Jeff Denworth
| area_served =
| area_served =
| key_people = Renen Hallak, co-founder and CEO<br>Shachar Fienblit,co-founder and VP R&D<br>Jeff Denworth, co-founder<br>Michael Wing, president
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list | Renen Hallak (CEO) | Shachar Fienblit (VP R&D) | Michael Wing (President)}}
| products =
| products =
| parent =
| parent =
| revenue =
| revenue =
| num_employees = 700 (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=VAST Closes Series E Funding Round, Nearly Triples Valuation to $9.1 Billion |url=https://www.vastdata.com/press-releases/vast-series-e-funding-triples-valuation |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=www.vastdata.com |language=en}}</ref>
| num_employees =
| homepage = {{URL|https://vastdata.com/}}
| homepage = {{URL|https://vastdata.com/}}
}}
}}
'''VAST Data''' is a privately held technology company focused on [[Artificial intelligence|artificial intelligence (AI)]] and [[deep learning]] computing infrastructure.<ref name="Mellor">{{cite web |last1=Mellor |first1=Chris |title=VAST Data: The first thing we do, let's kill all the hard drives |url=https://blocksandfiles.com/2019/02/26/vast-datas-extinction-level-event-for-disk-drives-and-tiering/ |website=Blocks and Files |date=February 26, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Miller">{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Ron |title=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/16/vast-data-lands-100m-series-c-on-1-2b-valuation-to-turn-storage-on-its-head/ |website= |date=April 16, 2020}}</ref> Founded in 2016, VAST has offices in the United States, UK, France, Germany, Australia.<ref name="Chris"/> The company offers a data computing platform that allows users to train AI models by storing and synthesizing large amounts of unstructured data.<ref name="Coughlin">{{cite web |last1=Coughlin |first1=Tom |title=VAST Storage Dreams |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomcoughlin/2019/03/01/vast-storage-dreams/#54ca126b73da |website=[[Forbes]] |date=March 1, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Adshead">{{cite web |last1=Adshead |first1=Antony |title=QLC + 3D Xpoint = Vast Data's universal storage |url=https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252484709/QLC-3D-Xpoint-Vast-Datas-Universal-Storage |website=[[Computer Weekly]]}}</ref>
'''VAST Data''' is a privately held technology company focused on [[Artificial intelligence|artificial intelligence (AI)]] and [[deep learning]] computing infrastructure.<ref name="Mellor">{{cite web |last1=Mellor |first1=Chris |title=VAST Data: The first thing we do, let's kill all the hard drives |url=https://blocksandfiles.com/2019/02/26/vast-datas-extinction-level-event-for-disk-drives-and-tiering/ |website=Blocks and Files |date=February 26, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Miller">{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Ron |title=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/16/vast-data-lands-100m-series-c-on-1-2b-valuation-to-turn-storage-on-its-head/ |website= |date=April 16, 2020}}</ref> The company offers a data computing platform to help enterprises and cloud service providers manage and accelerate large-scale data-intensive applications.<ref name="Coughlin">{{cite web |last1=Coughlin |first1=Tom |title=VAST Storage Dreams |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomcoughlin/2019/03/01/vast-storage-dreams/#54ca126b73da |website=[[Forbes]] |date=March 1, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Adshead">{{cite web |last1=Adshead |first1=Antony |title=QLC + 3D Xpoint = Vast Data's universal storage |url=https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252484709/QLC-3D-Xpoint-Vast-Datas-Universal-Storage |website=[[Computer Weekly]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Joe |title=Business Insider |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-this-data-storage-startup-became-unicorn-amid-the-coronavirus-2020-4 |website= |date=April 17, 2020}}</ref>

VAST Data is being used by the [[National Institutes of Health]] and [[Harvard University]] to combat the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], as well as by [[Ginkgo Bioworks]] for genomic studies.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Joe |title=Business Insider |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-this-data-storage-startup-became-unicorn-amid-the-coronavirus-2020-4 |website= |date=April 17, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Wilson"/>


== History ==
== History ==
VAST Data was founded in 2016 by Renen Hallak, the former head of R&D at [[Dell EMC XtremIO|XtremIO]] (acquired in 2012 by [[Dell EMC]]),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-05-10 |title=EMC buys XtremIO for $430m - Globes |url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article--1000747655 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=en.globes.co.il |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kovar |first1=Joseph F. |title=Renen Hallak Talks Future |url=https://www.crn.com/slide-shows/storage/vast-data-ceo-renen-hallak-talks-future-finance-and-a-100m-funding-round/9 |website=[[CRN (magazine)|CRN]] |date=April 16, 2020}}</ref> Shachar Fienblit, formerly of [[Kaminario]], and Jeff Denworth, formerly of [[CTERA Networks]].<ref name="Wilson"/><ref name="Chris"/> Mike Wing, formerly of Dell EMC, serves as company president.<ref name="Chris">{{cite web |last1=Mellor |first1=Chris |title=VAST Data's business sitrep |url=https://blocksandfiles.com/2019/02/26/vast-datas-business-sitrep/ |website=Blocks and Files |date=February 26, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Wing, Vast Data Inc: Profile and Biography |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/22996955 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref>
VAST Data was founded in 2016 by Renen Hallak, the former head of R&D at [[Dell EMC XtremIO|XtremIO]] (acquired in 2012 by [[Dell EMC]]),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-05-10 |title=EMC buys XtremIO for $430m - Globes |url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article--1000747655 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=en.globes.co.il |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kovar |first1=Joseph F. |title=Renen Hallak Talks Future |url=https://www.crn.com/slide-shows/storage/vast-data-ceo-renen-hallak-talks-future-finance-and-a-100m-funding-round/9 |website=[[CRN (magazine)|CRN]] |date=April 16, 2020}}</ref> Shachar Fienblit, formerly of [[Kaminario]], and Jeff Denworth, formerly of [[CTERA Networks]].<ref name="Wilson"/><ref name="Chris"/> Mike Wing, formerly of Dell EMC, serves as company president.<ref name="Chris">{{cite web |last1=Mellor |first1=Chris |title=VAST Data's business sitrep |url=https://blocksandfiles.com/2019/02/26/vast-datas-business-sitrep/ |website=Blocks and Files |date=February 26, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Wing, Vast Data Inc: Profile and Biography |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/22996955 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref>


⚫
In February 2019, VAST emerged from [[stealth mode]], announcing $80 million of funding and the launch of its data storage software built on a new [[Distributed computing|distributed systems architecture]] called DASE (Disaggregated and Shared Everything).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Daniel |date=2019-06-05 |title=VAST Data guarantees no downtime, no data loss |url=https://blocksandfiles.com/2019/06/05/vast-data-zero-compromise-guarantee/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Blocks and Files |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Wilson">{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Alexandra |title=VAST Data Gets $1.2 Billion Valuation, As Researchers Race To Combat COVID-19 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandrawilson1/2020/04/16/vast-data-gets-12-billion-valuation-as-researchers-race-to-combat-covid-19/#352a3c9b39e6 |website=[[Forbes]]|date=April 16, 2020}}</ref>
VAST Data's launch was supported by [[Dell]] and [[Goldman Sachs]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sawaya |first1=Sydney |title=Vast Data Grows War Chest |url=https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/news/vast-data-grows-war-chest-with-100m-funding-round-1-2b-valuation/2020/04/ |website=[[SDxCentral]] |date=April 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Deutscher |first1=Maria |title=SiliconANGLE |url=https://siliconangle.com/2020/04/16/dell-backed-storage-startup-vast-data-raises-100m-1-2b-valuation/ |publisher= |date=April 16, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Deutscher">{{cite web |last1=Deutscher |first1=Maria |title=With upgraded storage platform, Dell-backed Vast Data targets AI workloads |url=https://siliconangle.com/2019/09/12/upgraded-storage-platform-dell-backed-vast-data-targets-ai-workloads/ |website=SiliconANGLE |date=September 12, 2019}}</ref>

⚫
In February 2019 VAST emerged from [[stealth mode]], announcing $80 million of funding and the launch of its Universal Storage software built on a [[Distributed computing|distributed systems architecture]] developed by VAST called DASE (Disaggregated and Shared Everything).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Daniel |date=2019-06-05 |title=VAST Data guarantees no downtime, no data loss |url=https://blocksandfiles.com/2019/06/05/vast-data-zero-compromise-guarantee/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Blocks and Files |language=en-US}}</ref> <ref name="Wilson">{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Alexandra |title=VAST Data Gets $1.2 Billion Valuation, As Researchers Race To Combat COVID-19 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandrawilson1/2020/04/16/vast-data-gets-12-billion-valuation-as-researchers-race-to-combat-covid-19/#352a3c9b39e6 |website=[[Forbes]]|date=April 16, 2020}}</ref>A scale-out unstructured data storage designed to eliminate [[Hierarchical storage management|tiered storage]], Universal Storage was awarded the 2019 Gold Medal Product of the Year from TechTarget.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enterprise data storage 2019 Products of the Year finalists {{!}} TechTarget |url=https://www.techtarget.com/searchstorage/feature/Enterprise-data-storage-2019-Products-of-the-Year-finalists |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Storage |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2021, VAST moved to a software licensing model called Gemini that enables customers to separate the hardware purchasing cycle from the software licensing cost.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-08 |title=VAST Data goes software-only - what does this mean for customers? |url=https://www.architecting.it/blog/vast-data-gemini/ |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=Architecting IT |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In May 2021 VAST closed its Series D funding round, raising $83 million at a post-money valuation of $3.7 billion, tripling its valuation from April 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orbach |first=Meir |date=2021-05-04 |title=VAST Data raises $83 million series D, tripling valuation to $3.7 billion in just one year |url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3906958,00.html |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=CTECH - www.calcalistech.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Elder |first=Jeff |title=Here's why a key investor in Snowflake and UiPath is betting big on VAST Data, a hot startup that tripled its valuation in a year to $3.7 billion |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/vast-ai-data-tiger-snowflake-ipo-billion-valuation-server-2021-5 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Costa |first1=Cameron |date=May 5, 2020 |title=Start-up gets $1 billion valuation virtually, as coronavirus shifts Silicon Valley hunt for IPO riches |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/05/start-up-hits-1-billion-virtually-as-virus-shifts-silicon-valley-riches.html |website=CNBC}}</ref>

VAST ranked No. 5 on the 2022 [[Deloitte Technology Fast 500]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Technology Fast 500™ Rankings |url=https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/technology-media-telecommunications/us-tmt-22-deloitte-technology-fast-500-ranking-list.pdf |website=deloitte.com}}</ref> and No. 3 on the 2023 [[Financial Times]] list of The Americas’ Fastest-Growing Companies, based on VAST’s fiscal revenue growth from 2018 to 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-03-28 |title=FT ranking: The Americas’ Fastest-Growing Companies 2023 |language=en-GB |url=https://www.ft.com/americas-fastest-growing-companies-2023 |access-date=2023-11-15}}</ref> VAST Data also was included in Fast Company’s list of the 10 most innovative companies in data science of 2023, as well as Forbes’s America’s Best Startup Employers.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=America's Best Startup Employers 2023 |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/americas-best-startup-employers/?sh=4d47bb222ad7 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

In March 2023 the company announced it had exceeded $100 million in [[Annual recurring revenue|ARR]] within three years of selling.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Lenovo and Vast Data credit channel for growth |url=https://www.computerweekly.com/microscope/news/365532523/Lenovo-and-Vast-Data-credit-channel-for-growth |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=MicroScope |language=en}}</ref>


VAST ranked No. 5 on the 2022 [[Deloitte Technology Fast 500]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Technology Fast 500™ Rankings |url=https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/technology-media-telecommunications/us-tmt-22-deloitte-technology-fast-500-ranking-list.pdf |website=deloitte.com}}</ref> and No. 3 on the 2023 [[Financial Times]] list of The Americas’ Fastest-Growing Companies.
In May 2023 VAST was certified as an Nvidia SuperPOD data store.<ref>{{Cite web |last=staff |date=2023-05-17 |title=VAST Data Achieves NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD Certification |url=https://insidehpc.com/2023/05/vast-data-achieves-nvidia-dgx-superpod-certification/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=High-Performance Computing News Analysis {{!}} insideHPC |language=en-US}}</ref>


In December 2023 VAST announced it had surpassed $1 billion in cumulative software bookings; had surpassed $200 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR); and had maintained positive cash flow for the previous 12 quarters with a gross margin of nearly 90 percent.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-06 |title=VAST Data closes $118 million Series E, nearly triples valuation to $9.1 billion |url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bjfh5gast |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=ctech |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Genesys Cloud Reaches Nearly $1.3 Billion Annual Recurring Revenue in Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024 |url=https://www.genesys.com/company/newsroom/announcements/genesys-cloud-reaches-nearly-1-3-billion-annual-recurring-revenue-in-third-quarter-of-fiscal-year-2024 |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Genesys |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McDowell |first=Steve |title=VAST Data More Than Doubles Valuation to $9.1B in Latest Funding Round |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevemcdowell/2023/12/07/vast-data-doubles-valuation-to-91b-in-latest-funding-round/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-07 |title=Vast Data closes funding round in wake of AWS upgrade |url=https://www.capacitymedia.com/article/2cju0ldin3p1x9m1se800/news/vast-data-closes-funding-round-in-wake-of-aws-upgrade |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Capacity Media |language=en}}</ref>
In April 2023 VAST entered into a partnership with [[Hewlett Packard Enterprise]] to provide software for HPE GreenLake for File Storage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vast dips into HPE GreenLake with new file storage service {{!}} TechTarget |url=https://www.techtarget.com/searchstorage/news/365534832/Vast-dips-into-HPE-GreenLake-with-new-file-storage-service |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Storage |language=en}}</ref>


On August 1, 2023 VAST announced the launch of the VAST Data Platform, which offers storage, database, and compute engine services, and is designed to accelerate AI-enabled research.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hampton |first=Jaime |date=2023-08-04 |title=Vast Data Boosts AI Infrastructure with New Unified Data Platform |url=https://www.enterpriseai.news/2023/08/04/vast-data-boosts-ai-infrastructure-with-new-unified-data-platform/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=EnterpriseAI |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2024 VAST was included in the Forbes Cloud 100, a list of the top private cloud computing companies, and was named a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for File and Object Storage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=KONRAD" |first="KENRICK CAI"," ALEX |title=Forbes Cloud 100 2024 List - Best Cloud Computing Companies Ranked |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/cloud100/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>


== Funding ==
== Funding ==
As of August 2023, VAST Data has raised $263 million in funding.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-04 |title=NVIDIA invests in VAST Data's $83M D round, and bumps its valuation to $3.7B |url=https://www.geektime.com/nvidia-invests-in-vast-datas-83m-round-and-bumps-its-valuation-to/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Geektime |language=en}}</ref>
VAST Data has raised $381million in funding.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiggers |first=Kyle |date=2023-12-06 |title=Vast Data lands $118M to grow its data storage platform for AI workloads |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/06/vast-data-lands-118m-to-grow-its-data-storage-platform-for-ai-workloads/ |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref>


In December 2023 VAST announced a Series E funding round led by Fidelity Management and Research Co. that raised $118 million at a valuation of $9.1 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Shubham |date=2023-12-06 |title=AI infrastructure major VAST Data’s valuation surges to over $9B after fresh funding |url=https://venturebeat.com/data-infrastructure/ai-infrastructure-major-vast-datas-valuation-surges-to-over-9b-after-fresh-funding/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-12 |title=AI data platform VAST Data raises $118m at $9b valuation |language=en |work=Globes |url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-ai-data-platform-vast-data-raises-118m-at-9b-valuation-1001464366 |access-date=2023-12-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-18 |title=CrowdStrike and Optiv Surpass $1 Billion in Sales |url=https://www.wallstreet-online.de/nachricht/17643224-crowdstrike-and-optiv-surpass-1-billion-sales |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=wallstreet-online.de |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiggers |first=Kyle |date=2023-12-06 |title=Vast Data lands $118M to grow its data storage platform for AI workloads |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/06/vast-data-lands-118m-to-grow-its-data-storage-platform-for-ai-workloads/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hu and |first=Krystal |title=VAST Data eyes IPO after valuation surges to $9.1 bln in latest fund raise |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/vast-data-valued-91-bln-after-latest-fund-raise-2023-12-06/ |website=Reuters}}</ref>
In February 2019 VAST announced it had raised $80M of funding in two rounds, backed by [[Norwest Venture Partners]], Dell Technologies Capital, [[83North|83 North]], [[Goldman Sachs]] and a [[TPG Growth]]-sponsored investment platform.<ref name=":0" /> Other investors to date include [[Tiger Global Management]], [[Commonfund]], Greenfield, [[Next47]], [[Norwest Venture Partners|Norwest]], and [[Nvidia|NVIDIA]]. VAST announced in May 2023 it has been cash flow positive since 2020.<ref name=":1" />
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|'''Series'''
! Series
|'''Date'''
! Date
|'''Amount (million $)'''
! Amount (million $)
|'''Lead Investor(s)'''
! Lead Investor(s)
|-
|-
|A
|A
Line 80: Line 68:
|83
|83
|Tiger Global Management
|Tiger Global Management
|-
|E
|2023
|118
|Fidelity Management and Research Co.
|}
|}

== Technology ==
VAST Data uses [[Intel Optane|Intel's Optane]] (or [[3D XPoint|3D Xpoint]]-based) [[NVM Express|NVMe]] SSDs.<ref name="Coughlin"/><ref name="Marko">{{cite web |last1=Marko |first1=Kurt |title=NVMe-oF products are changing the face of data storage |url=https://searchstorage.techtarget.com/feature/NVMe-oF-products-are-changing-the-face-of-data-storage |website=[[TechTarget]] |date=September 25, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Adshead"/> 3D XPoint [[non-volatile memory]] is integrated into VAST Data's architecture, as hardware mechanism to handle computational storage software tasks such as erasure coding, large stripe write shaping, and other software mechanics, so that lower cost, high density [[NAND Flash]]-based SSDs can be effectively used behind the [[3D XPoint]] high performance SSDs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vast Data Adds Zero Data Loss Guarantee for Storage |url=https://www.channelfutures.com/sales-marketing/vast-data-adds-zero-data-loss-guarantee-for-storage |website=Channel Futures |date=June 7, 2019}}</ref>

VAST Data's technology allows for collapsing multiple storage tiers into one that has decoupled compute nodes, which are accessed using NVMe-oF.<ref name="Mellor"/> After [[data reduction]] occurs, around 2PB of space is available.<ref name="Mellor"/> The single VAST Data tier uses wide data stripes, with the purpose of global erasure coding.<ref name="Mellor"/> NVMe-linked Databoxes contain flash drives for data and Optane XPoint for metadata.<ref name="Mellor"/> VAST storage enclosures are connected to servers through NVMe-oF, using either 100Gbit/s [[Ethernet]] or [[Infiniband]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Robin |title=Vast Data: A smart new architecture for cloud scale storage |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/a-smart-new-architecture-for-cloud-scale-storage/ |website=ZDNet |date=July 27, 2020}}</ref>

VAST Data, with regard to universal storage, uses [[Multi-level cell#Quad-level cell|Flash-QLC]] and 100 percent persistent global namespace.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vast Data |url=https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/news/vast-data-raises-80m-for-flash-performance-at-hard-disk-prices/2019/02/ |website= |date=February 27, 2019}}</ref> It supports [[artificial intelligence]] applications along with more classical applications such as Web Content or Search.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Chris |title=Leading storage for AI tools address workload capacity, performance |url=https://searchstorage.techtarget.com/feature/Leading-storage-for-AI-tools-address-workload-capacity-performance |website=[[TechTarget|SearchStorage]] |date=November 13, 2019}}</ref>

Its Year 2020, storage architecture release, known as LightSpeed, combines three core elements to deliver parallel and higher scalable performance for AI and HPC. These elements are:
# RDMA for NFS version 3.
# nconnect to create multiple network paths to a single NFS mount.
# [[Kepler (microarchitecture)#NVIDIA GPUDirect|NVidia GPUDirect]] available for [[NVIDIA GPU]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kovar |first1=Joseph F. |title=Vast Data Aims At Artificial Intelligence With LightSpeed Architecture |url=https://www.crn.com/news/storage/vast-data-aims-at-artificial-intelligence-with-lightspeed-architecture |website=[[CRN (magazine)|CRN]] |date=September 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Coughlin |first1=Tom |title=Cloud At The Edge, GPU Storage And LTO Gen 9 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomcoughlin/2020/09/23/cloud-at-the-edge-gpu-storage-and-lto-gen-9/#1377cf403e1e |website=[[Forbes]] |date=September 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Denworth |first1=Jeff |title=LightSpeed Universal Storage for A.I. Webinar — VAST Data |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CzngrkW3VI&feature=emb_rel_pause |website=[[YouTube]] |date=December 14, 2020}}</ref>


== Product ==
== Product ==
The VAST Data Platform is a unified global datastore, database, and AI computing engine comprising the following features:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Timothy Prickett |date=2023-08-01 |title=Vast Data Intentionally Blurs The Line Between Storage And Database - The Next Platform |url=https://www.nextplatform.com/2023/08/01/vast-data-intentionally-blurs-the-line-between-storage-and-database/,%20https://www.nextplatform.com/2023/08/01/vast-data-intentionally-blurs-the-line-between-storage-and-database/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=www.nextplatform.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
The VAST Data Platform enables organizations to store, manage, and process large amounts of structured and unstructured data for AI and deep learning initiatives. The platform comprises several:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Timothy Prickett |date=2023-08-01 |title=Vast Data Intentionally Blurs The Line Between Storage And Database - The Next Platform |url=https://www.nextplatform.com/2023/08/01/vast-data-intentionally-blurs-the-line-between-storage-and-database/,%20https://www.nextplatform.com/2023/08/01/vast-data-intentionally-blurs-the-line-between-storage-and-database/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=www.nextplatform.com |language=en-US}}</ref>


* VAST DataStore (formerly known as Universal Storage), an [[unstructured data]] storage
* VAST DataStore (formerly known as Universal Storage), an [[unstructured data]] storage solution
* VAST DataBase, a database management system (DBMS) that includes the constructs of a traditional [[database]], [[data warehouse]], and [[data lake]]
* VAST DataBase, a database management system (DBMS) that includes the constructs of a traditional [[database]], [[data warehouse]], and [[data lake]]
* VAST DataEngine (scheduled to be generally available in 2024), a global [[Function (computer programming)|function]] execution engine
* VAST DataEngine (scheduled to be generally available in 2024), a global [[Function (computer programming)|function]] execution engine
* VAST DataSpace, a [[Global Namespace|global namespace]] that permits every location to store, retrieve, and process data
* VAST DataSpace, a [[Global Namespace|global namespace]] that permits every location to store, retrieve, and process data
* VAST InsightEngine with NVIDIA, a real-time retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) solution<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kimball |first=Matt |title=VAST Data Deepens Its AI Enablement With InsightEngine |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/moorinsights/2024/10/07/vast-data-deepens-its-ai-enablement-with-insightengine/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>


The platform is deployable in on-premises data centers, public clouds, and edge and ruggedized environments, and is delivered as a subscription-based service.
The platform is deployable in on-premises data centers, public clouds, and edge environments, and is delivered as a subscription-based service.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-04 |title=VAST Data Deep Learning Data Platform - Built for AI |url=https://www.storagereview.com/news/vast-data-deep-learning-data-platform-built-for-ai |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=StorageReview.com |language=en-US}}</ref>


== Operations ==
== Operations ==
As of February 2022 VAST operates in the United States, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Israel, Turkey, Czech Republic, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and Korea, with further expansion planned across EMEA with Benelux, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and the Nordics, and in Asia with Japan.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Distribution underpinning VAST Data’s EMEA expansion plans |url=https://www.computerweekly.com/microscope/news/252512879/Distribution-underpinning-VAST-Data-EMEA-expansion-plans |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=MicroScope |language=en}}</ref>
VAST partners with several systems technology vendors worldwide, including Arista, Cisco, Equinix, HPE, Lenovo, NVIDIA, and Supermicro.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salamone |first=Salvatore |date=2023-10-01 |title=Real-time Analytics News for the Week Ending September 30 |url=https://www.rtinsights.com/real-time-analytics-news-for-the-week-ending-september-30/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=RTInsights |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Distribution underpinning VAST Data’s EMEA expansion plans |url=https://www.computerweekly.com/microscope/news/252512879/Distribution-underpinning-VAST-Data-EMEA-expansion-plans |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=MicroScope |language=en}}</ref>

VAST partners with several distribution partners worldwide, including AHEAD, CDI, Carahsoft, Spinnaker, Arrow Electronics, Logicom, TechData, and ASI.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salamone |first=Salvatore |date=2023-10-01 |title=Real-time Analytics News for the Week Ending September 30 |url=https://www.rtinsights.com/real-time-analytics-news-for-the-week-ending-september-30/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=RTInsights |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2" />


VAST is a remote-first company with offices in New York City; Durham, North Carolina; Campbell, California; and Yafo, Israel.<ref name="Chris" />
VAST is a no-headquarters company with offices in New York City; Durham, North Carolina; Campbell, California; and Yafo, Israel.<ref name="Chris" />


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 06:04, 14 November 2024

VAST Data
Company typePrivate
IndustryComputer Software
FoundedJanuary 2016; 8 years ago (2016-01)
Founders
  • Renen Hallak
  • Shachar Fienblit
  • Jeff Denworth
Key people
  • Renen Hallak (CEO)
  • Shachar Fienblit (VP R&D)
  • Michael Wing (President)
Number of employees
700 (2023)[1]
Websitevastdata.com

VAST Data is a privately held technology company focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning computing infrastructure.[2][3] The company offers a data computing platform to help enterprises and cloud service providers manage and accelerate large-scale data-intensive applications.[4][5][6]

History

[edit]

VAST Data was founded in 2016 by Renen Hallak, the former head of R&D at XtremIO (acquired in 2012 by Dell EMC),[7][8] Shachar Fienblit, formerly of Kaminario, and Jeff Denworth, formerly of CTERA Networks.[9][10] Mike Wing, formerly of Dell EMC, serves as company president.[10][11]

In February 2019, VAST emerged from stealth mode, announcing $80 million of funding and the launch of its data storage software built on a new distributed systems architecture called DASE (Disaggregated and Shared Everything).[12][9]

VAST ranked No. 5 on the 2022 Deloitte Technology Fast 500[13] and No. 3 on the 2023 Financial Times list of The Americas’ Fastest-Growing Companies.

In December 2023 VAST announced it had surpassed $1 billion in cumulative software bookings; had surpassed $200 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR); and had maintained positive cash flow for the previous 12 quarters with a gross margin of nearly 90 percent.[14][15][16][17]

In 2024 VAST was included in the Forbes Cloud 100, a list of the top private cloud computing companies, and was named a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for File and Object Storage.[18]

Funding

[edit]

VAST Data has raised $381million in funding.[19]

In December 2023 VAST announced a Series E funding round led by Fidelity Management and Research Co. that raised $118 million at a valuation of $9.1 billion.[20][21][22][23][24]

Series Date Amount (million $) Lead Investor(s)
A 2016 15 83North, Norwest
A1 2018 25 Dell Technologies Capital, 83North, Norwest
B 2019 40 Greenfield, 83North, Norwest
C 2020 100 Next47
D 2021 83 Tiger Global Management
E 2023 118 Fidelity Management and Research Co.

Product

[edit]

The VAST Data Platform enables organizations to store, manage, and process large amounts of structured and unstructured data for AI and deep learning initiatives. The platform comprises several:[25]

  • VAST DataStore (formerly known as Universal Storage), an unstructured data storage solution
  • VAST DataBase, a database management system (DBMS) that includes the constructs of a traditional database, data warehouse, and data lake
  • VAST DataEngine (scheduled to be generally available in 2024), a global function execution engine
  • VAST DataSpace, a global namespace that permits every location to store, retrieve, and process data
  • VAST InsightEngine with NVIDIA, a real-time retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) solution[26]

The platform is deployable in on-premises data centers, public clouds, and edge environments, and is delivered as a subscription-based service.[27]

Operations

[edit]

VAST partners with several systems technology vendors worldwide, including Arista, Cisco, Equinix, HPE, Lenovo, NVIDIA, and Supermicro.[28][29]

VAST is a no-headquarters company with offices in New York City; Durham, North Carolina; Campbell, California; and Yafo, Israel.[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "VAST Closes Series E Funding Round, Nearly Triples Valuation to $9.1 Billion". www.vastdata.com. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  2. ^ Mellor, Chris (February 26, 2019). "VAST Data: The first thing we do, let's kill all the hard drives". Blocks and Files.
  3. ^ Miller, Ron (April 16, 2020). "TechCrunch".
  4. ^ Coughlin, Tom (March 1, 2019). "VAST Storage Dreams". Forbes.
  5. ^ Adshead, Antony. "QLC + 3D Xpoint = Vast Data's universal storage". Computer Weekly.
  6. ^ Williams, Joe (April 17, 2020). "Business Insider".
  7. ^ "EMC buys XtremIO for $430m - Globes". en.globes.co.il. 2012-05-10. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  8. ^ Kovar, Joseph F. (April 16, 2020). "Renen Hallak Talks Future". CRN.
  9. ^ a b Wilson, Alexandra (April 16, 2020). "VAST Data Gets $1.2 Billion Valuation, As Researchers Race To Combat COVID-19". Forbes.
  10. ^ a b c Mellor, Chris (February 26, 2019). "VAST Data's business sitrep". Blocks and Files.
  11. ^ "Mike Wing, Vast Data Inc: Profile and Biography". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  12. ^ Robinson, Daniel (2019-06-05). "VAST Data guarantees no downtime, no data loss". Blocks and Files. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  13. ^ "2022 Technology Fast 500™ Rankings" (PDF). deloitte.com.
  14. ^ "VAST Data closes $118 million Series E, nearly triples valuation to $9.1 billion". ctech. 2023-12-06. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  15. ^ "Genesys Cloud Reaches Nearly $1.3 Billion Annual Recurring Revenue in Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024". Genesys. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  16. ^ McDowell, Steve. "VAST Data More Than Doubles Valuation to $9.1B in Latest Funding Round". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  17. ^ "Vast Data closes funding round in wake of AWS upgrade". Capacity Media. 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  18. ^ KONRAD", "KENRICK CAI"," ALEX. "Forbes Cloud 100 2024 List - Best Cloud Computing Companies Ranked". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-11-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ Wiggers, Kyle (2023-12-06). "Vast Data lands $118M to grow its data storage platform for AI workloads". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  20. ^ Sharma, Shubham (2023-12-06). "AI infrastructure major VAST Data's valuation surges to over $9B after fresh funding". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  21. ^ "AI data platform VAST Data raises $118m at $9b valuation". Globes. 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  22. ^ "CrowdStrike and Optiv Surpass $1 Billion in Sales". wallstreet-online.de (in German). 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  23. ^ Wiggers, Kyle (2023-12-06). "Vast Data lands $118M to grow its data storage platform for AI workloads". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  24. ^ Hu and, Krystal. "VAST Data eyes IPO after valuation surges to $9.1 bln in latest fund raise". Reuters.
  25. ^ Morgan, Timothy Prickett (2023-08-01). "Vast Data Intentionally Blurs The Line Between Storage And Database - The Next Platform". www.nextplatform.com. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  26. ^ Kimball, Matt. "VAST Data Deepens Its AI Enablement With InsightEngine". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  27. ^ "VAST Data Deep Learning Data Platform - Built for AI". StorageReview.com. 2023-08-04. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  28. ^ Salamone, Salvatore (2023-10-01). "Real-time Analytics News for the Week Ending September 30". RTInsights. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  29. ^ "Distribution underpinning VAST Data's EMEA expansion plans". MicroScope. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
[edit]
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