Hubbry Logo
StackPathStackPathMain
Open search
StackPath
Community hub
StackPath
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
StackPath
StackPath
from Wikipedia

StackPath was an American edge computing platform provider headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Its founding team was led by Lance Crosby, who also co-founded SoftLayer Technologies, acquired by IBM in 2013.[1]

Key Information

Acquisitions

[edit]

Subsidiaries

[edit]

MaxCDN

[edit]

NetDNA, LLC was founded in 2009 as a content delivery network (CDN) with a focus on enterprise customers.[5] The company was founded by David Henzel and Christopher Ueland in Los Angeles.[6]

In 2010, NetDNA partnered with Wowza to launch the HDDN.com brand, a CDN for streaming video.[7][8]

By 2010, the MaxCDN brand was created as a simpler CDN for both small and large businesses. MaxCDN, LLC operated as a division of NetDNA, LLC.[9]

In 2011, Ben Neumann was CEO of NetDNA.[10] In 2011, NetDNA completed a funding round with Chelsea Management in Los Angeles.[10]

In 2013, NetDNA rebranded the company and its services as MaxCDN, conslidating other services such as HDDN.com under the same name, with the original NetDNA enterprise service rebranded as MaxCDN Enterprise.[11][12][13]

MaxCDN was acquired by StackPath in 2016.[14][2]

Divestitures

[edit]

In 2019, StackPath sold its VPN lines of business, including IPVanish (acquired as part of the Highwinds Network Group) and Encrypt.me (the new brand of Cloak), to J2 Global.[15]

In August 2023, Stackpath sold its CDN line of business (primarily approximately 100 select enterprise customer contracts as well as other assets) to Akamai following its decision to cease its content delivery network operations. The transaction did not include the acquisition of StackPath personnel or technology.[16]

Investors

[edit]

StackPath has received funding from investors including Abry Partners, Juniper Networks, and Cox Communications.[17]

Founders

[edit]

StackPath was founded May 5, 2015, by Lance Crosby, Greg Bock, Steven Canale, Ryan Carter, Paul Drew, Kenji Fukasawa, Jason Gulledge, Andrew Higginbotham,[18] James Leaverton, Andrew Maten, Dawn Mumm, Nick Nelson, and Josh Reese.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
StackPath was an American platform provider headquartered in , , specializing in (CDN) services, web application firewalls, and cybersecurity solutions. Founded in 2015 by Lance Crosby, Ryan Carter, and Jason Gulledge—former executives of SoftLayer Technologies, which was acquired by —the company aimed to deliver cloud infrastructure closer to end users for faster performance and enhanced security. The platform enabled businesses to deploy, accelerate, and protect workloads at the internet's edge, operating across numerous global points of presence to minimize latency for applications like media streaming, , and IoT. StackPath raised approximately $396 million in funding from investors including ABRY Partners and secured acquisitions of companies like MaxCDN and Highwinds to expand its offerings. In August 2023, acquired select enterprise customer contracts from StackPath to bolster its own CDN capabilities. In March 2024, Gcore acquired StackPath's and protection (WAAP) solution. Facing financial challenges, StackPath announced in June 2024 that it would cease all operations, shut down its products, and liquidate assets to benefit creditors, marking the end of its services including edge compute, DNS, and . In early 2025, Hilco Streambank oversaw the sale of its intangible assets, confirming the company's defunct status.

Overview

Founding

StackPath was established on May 5, 2015, in Dallas, Texas, precisely ten years after the founding of SoftLayer Technologies on the same date in 2005. The company operated in for its first year, during which its founding team developed the foundational technology for an integrated solution. Founder Lance Crosby, who previously co-founded and led SoftLayer as CEO, drew on his experience in building scalable cloud infrastructure to guide StackPath's early direction. In the wake of SoftLayer's successful $2 billion acquisition by in , StackPath was positioned to address evolving challenges in internet infrastructure by creating a cohesive platform at the network edge. This acquisition highlighted the demand for robust, scalable hosting services, lessons that informed StackPath's focus on unifying disparate technologies to streamline operations for developers and enterprises. StackPath emerged from stealth with its public launch in July 2016, securing $180 million in funding and completing four immediate acquisitions to rapidly assemble its core offerings. The company's vision centered on a unified edge platform that integrated capabilities, security features such as web application firewalls, , and VPN services, alongside compute resources, to resolve the fragmentation in traditional services and enable seamless, secure performance closer to end users. This approach aimed to provide a single, API-driven ecosystem that simplified deployment and enhanced real-time threat response through , setting StackPath apart as a comprehensive solution for edge-based applications.

Corporate Profile

StackPath was headquartered in , , and maintained global operations with a network of edge locations strategically positioned to deliver low-latency services. At its peak, the company operated 73 edge locations across 43 metro markets, enabling proximity to end-users for enhanced performance in content delivery and computing tasks. The company served primarily small and medium-sized business (SMB) and enterprise clients in sectors such as media, , and technology. In the edge cloud market, StackPath positioned itself as a consolidator, rapidly building its customer base through strategic acquisitions that integrated established networks and user communities. Initially serving over 16,000 customers via these acquired bases, it focused on providing low-latency delivery and integrated security solutions for websites and applications, catering to a diverse range of digital properties. StackPath differentiated itself from hyperscalers like (AWS) and established content delivery networks like Akamai by targeting mid-market users with easy-to-deploy, integrated edge services that emphasized simplicity and cost-effectiveness over expansive, complex enterprise-scale offerings. This approach allowed it to carve out a niche in accessible , though it faced challenges in competing with the broader ecosystems and scale of larger providers.

Products and Services

Content Delivery and Edge Platform

StackPath's core (CDN) provided a global designed to cache and accelerate the delivery of both static and dynamic content to end users, reducing latency and improving load times for websites and applications. The platform supported seamless distribution of media files, images, scripts, and other assets by storing copies at distributed edge servers closer to users, thereby minimizing the distance data travels. Integrated with SecureCDN, the service enabled encrypted delivery through and free SSL certificates, ensuring secure transmission of content without compromising performance. The edge platform featured up to 73 points of presence (PoPs) strategically located across , , , , and other regions, optimized for low-latency access as of 2024. These PoPs facilitated efficient support for video streaming by enabling adaptive bitrate delivery to handle varying network conditions, website acceleration through optimized and compression, and API delivery for faster response times in dynamic applications. By leveraging a dense network in high-traffic areas, the platform ensured reliable performance for global audiences. Key features included origin shielding, which acted as an intermediary cache layer to protect origin servers from excessive traffic and reduce load by consolidating requests from multiple edge nodes. Real-time provided users with immediate insights into traffic patterns, cache hit ratios, and bandwidth usage via an intuitive and . The platform also integrated technologies from acquired assets like MaxCDN, tailoring delivery options for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with easy-to-use tools for quick setup and management. StackPath's CDN evolved from the 2016 acquisition of MaxCDN and the acquisition of Highwinds, merging their networks and capabilities to form a unified edge platform capable of scaling for high-traffic events such as peaks during holiday seasons. This consolidation expanded the global footprint and enhanced support for enterprise-level demands, allowing the service to handle surges in demand while maintaining consistent performance. Services ceased operations in 2024.

Security Features

StackPath's security features were built around an integrated suite designed to protect web applications, APIs, and user access at the edge. The core of this suite included the SP//WAF (), which provided rule-based protection against common web threats such as , cross-site scripting (XSS), and the Top 10 vulnerabilities. Powered by technology from the 2016 acquisition of Fireblade, a next-generation WAF provider, SP//WAF incorporated advanced components like browser validation, IP reputation scoring, and custom rules to detect and block malicious traffic in real time. Independent testing confirmed its effectiveness, with the firewall successfully blocking all non-zero-day exploits in simulated attacks, including those targeting application-layer vulnerabilities. Complementing the WAF, StackPath offered always-on through its edge network, leveraging scrubbing centers to filter volumetric and application-layer attacks before they reached customer origins. This capability stemmed from the integration of Staminus Communications' , acquired in , which enabled distributed protection across global points of presence (PoPs). The system handled Layer 7 DDoS attacks as part of the WAF subscriptions, ensuring seamless defense without performance degradation, and was particularly effective against automated abuse like scraping and spam. In March 2024, the and API protection (WAAP) solution, including the WAF and , was acquired by Gcore. For secure remote access, StackPath provided Encrypt.me, a originally developed from the 2016 acquisition of VPN, which supported site-to-site connections, mobile access, and policy-based enforcement to align with zero-trust principles until its sale in 2019. Encrypt.me emphasized user-friendly on untrusted networks, automatically securing connections and preventing data leaks through features like network shutdown on failure to connect. It complemented zero-trust architectures by enabling granular access controls, reducing risks from traditional VPN exposures like lateral movement. These features were layered atop StackPath's CDN to form SecureCDN, offering unified protection that included bot management for distinguishing legitimate traffic from malicious automation and security to safeguard endpoints against exploits. This integration allowed customers to deploy without separate configurations, with the edge platform handling threat detection holistically to maintain performance and compliance.

Compute and Storage Solutions

StackPath's compute and storage solutions were engineered to deliver low-latency and management directly at edge, leveraging its global points of presence (PoPs) to minimize delays for distributed applications. These offerings included serverless functions, containerized and (VM) workloads, , and integrated monitoring tools, enabling developers to build scalable, performant systems without centralized cloud overhead. The core of StackPath's edge compute capabilities was EdgeEngine, a serverless platform launched in that allowed developers to deploy functions at edge locations for rapid execution. Built on the Chrome V8 JavaScript engine, EdgeEngine supported scripting in languages such as , with additional runtime options including Python via modules, enabling efficient handling of dynamic workloads like routing and data transformation. Complementing serverless functions, StackPath provided Edge Compute for containers and VMs, introduced in 2019, where users could upload Docker images or VM snapshots to run full applications across up to 43 major markets, as of mid-2024. These deployments at PoPs ensured low latency for processing, ideal for time-sensitive operations close to end users. StackPath's service offered S3-compatible buckets deployed on its edge network, facilitating seamless integration with developer tools and workflows for storing . Designed for high-availability scenarios, the storage supported geo-replication across regions to enhance data durability and accessibility, making it suitable for use cases like media file distribution and automated backups. Developers could manage buckets via standard S3 APIs, with Terraform resources available for infrastructure-as-code provisioning, ensuring compatibility with existing ecosystems. Through the 2018 acquisition of Server Density, StackPath incorporated advanced monitoring features into its platform, providing real-time visibility into infrastructure performance from a unified console. This integration enabled alerting on key metrics such as CPU utilization, bandwidth consumption, and server uptime, alongside website health checks and notifications via , , or webhooks. The monitoring extended to and on-premises environments, helping operations teams proactively address issues in edge-deployed resources. These compute and storage solutions were particularly optimized for latency-critical applications, including (IoT) sensor data processing, online gaming sessions requiring instantaneous responses, and real-time collaboration tools like video chats. By positioning execution and data handling at , StackPath reduced round-trip delays compared to traditional cloud architectures and supported scalable growth for global user bases. All services ceased operations in June 2024.

Business Development

Funding and Investors

StackPath secured a total of $396 million in equity funding across two primary rounds, enabling its rapid scaling in and services. In July , the company raised $180 million in a led by ABRY Partners, which contributed $150 million, with an additional $30 million from existing insiders. This funding supported the initial build-out of StackPath's platform and facilitated key early acquisitions to establish its content delivery and capabilities. StackPath's Series B round, closed in March 2020, brought in $216 million led by and , along with participation from other investors. The capital was directed toward global expansion of its infrastructure and further integration of prior assets, such as the Highwinds network acquired in , to enhance performance and reach. ABRY Partners played a pivotal role beyond capital, offering strategic guidance on to fuel StackPath's growth in the competitive edge services market. Similarly, Juniper Networks emphasized synergies with its networking expertise, aiming to advance StackPath's multicloud and edge solutions through collaborative technology integration.

Acquisitions

StackPath pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy starting in 2016 to consolidate technologies in content delivery, security, and , enabling the rapid build-out of an integrated platform. In July 2016, the company simultaneously announced four key acquisitions funded by a $180 million investment round led by ABRY Partners. These included MaxCDN, a based in Studio City, California, serving approximately 16,000 customers across 19 global points of presence; Fireblade, an Israel-based provider specializing in behavioral risk mitigation; Staminus Communications, a U.S.-based firm headquartered in ; and Cloak (later rebranded as Encrypt.me), a with about 15,000 paying users and over 1 million downloads. In February 2017, StackPath acquired , a Florida-based provider of CDN and IP transit services that catered to over 20,000 customers, particularly in enterprise media delivery and high-throughput applications. This deal significantly expanded StackPath's backbone and capabilities, integrating Highwinds' team into its CDN operations. The acquisition aligned with StackPath's goal of enhancing secure, high-performance edge services for large-scale enterprise needs. By May 2018, StackPath merged with Server Density, a London-based SaaS platform for monitoring that served more than 1,000 customers across 75 countries, collecting 12 billion metrics daily. This addition brought advanced server, , and website visibility tools to StackPath's portfolio, establishing as its European headquarters and supporting real-time performance optimization. Over its history, StackPath completed six acquisitions, primarily in the United States, United Kingdom, and Israel, focusing on cybersecurity, networking, and monitoring technologies. This rapid consolidation strategy brought diverse expertise, customer bases, and revenue streams, propelling the company's annual run rate from $16 million in mid-2016 to nearly $200 million by early 2018.

Decline and Closure

Divestitures

In 2023, StackPath exited the (CDN) market by selling approximately 100 enterprise customer contracts to , allowing those clients to migrate to Akamai's Connected Cloud platform without involving any transfer of StackPath personnel or underlying technology. This transaction marked a strategic pivot away from CDN services, which StackPath had built through prior integrations like MaxCDN and Highwinds. Following the sale, StackPath fully ceased CDN operations on November 22, 2023, after seven years of service, terminating all related offerings including those from acquired entities such as MaxCDN and Highwinds, and requiring remaining customers to seek alternatives. In 2024, StackPath divested its and Protection (WAAP) solution to Gcore, which integrated the technology into its edge security portfolio to strengthen capabilities in web application firewalls, bot management, and security, with full incorporation completed by the third quarter. These divestitures represented StackPath's efforts to streamline operations amid competitive pressures in the edge computing and sectors, concentrating resources on core assets prior to broader wind-down activities.

Shutdown and

On June 14, 2024, StackPath announced the immediate decommissioning of all its services via to customers, stating that "after careful consideration, it has been decided to close all StackPath products and liquidate all assets for the benefit of our creditors." This marked the complete cessation of operations for the company, which had previously divested its CDN business to Akamai in 2023. The shutdown affected StackPath's remaining core offerings, including edge compute, DNS, object storage, network transit, data center colocation, and server monitoring services. Invoicing for these services was halted as of June 12, 2024, with customers instructed to settle any outstanding balances through the control.stackpath.com portal. Technical support ended immediately, and no new contracts or ongoing services were to be provided, effectively ending the company. The liquidation process involved the sale of all remaining assets to benefit creditors, with no provisions for continued operations or customer transitions managed by StackPath. In July 2024, offers were sought to purchase up to 180,000 IPv4 addresses held by StackPath. In 2025, Hilco Streambank began overseeing the sale of intangible assets, including 15 issued U.S. patents, proprietary , over 150 domain names, and 7 U.S. and 72 international registered trademarks, with binding bids due by February 19, 2025. As of November 2025, no buyer for these intangible assets has been publicly announced. This closure stemmed from significant market consolidation challenges in providing "vanilla" edge services, where smaller providers struggled to achieve the necessary against dominant hyperscalers. The decision highlighted the inability to compete effectively in a favoring large-scale players, signaling the end of an era for StackPath after its period of rapid expansion. Customers were urged to immediately migrate their services and data to alternative providers, with recommendations including Akamai for enterprise continuity and Gcore for broader CDN and edge needs. This abrupt end disrupted operations for reliant users, prompting urgent data exports and service reconfigurations to avoid downtime.

Leadership

Founders

Lance Crosby served as the CEO and Chairman of StackPath upon its founding in 2015, bringing extensive experience from his prior role as co-founder, CEO, and Chairman of SoftLayer Technologies, which was acquired by for $2 billion in 2013. Crosby envisioned StackPath as an platform that integrated security and delivery services, leveraging acquisitions to rapidly build capabilities in content delivery networks, DDoS protection, and firewalls. His leadership emphasized a unified platform at the network edge to address evolving cybersecurity threats, drawing inspiration from SoftLayer's cloud infrastructure innovations. StackPath was founded in 2015 by Lance Crosby, , and Jason Gulledge. The initial team also included Steven Canale, overseeing revenue and with prior SoftLayer experience; Paul Drew, managing and infrastructure; Kenji Fukasawa, contributing to technology and ; and Greg Bock, supporting operations. These individuals brought complementary expertise in operations, , product development, , and to establish StackPath's core offerings. Collectively, the founders assembled an initial team largely composed of SoftLayer , enabling a strong foundation in scalable cloud technologies. They prioritized integrating technologies from early acquisitions into a cohesive edge platform, focusing on features that adapted to real-time threats and supported global content delivery. In March 2020, Crosby transitioned to the role of Chief Innovation Officer, a position he held until StackPath's closure in 2024.

Key Executives

Christopher Turco, also known as Kip Turco, has served as Chief Executive Officer of StackPath since March 2020, succeeding an interim role he held from January of that year. As a partner at ABRY Partners, which provided early investment to StackPath, Turco also joined the company's board of directors, influencing strategic direction during a period of expansion and later challenges. Under his leadership, StackPath achieved $79 million in revenue for fiscal year 2023, reflecting growth in edge computing and security services prior to market shifts. Key technical leadership included Charnock, appointed in September 2020, who brought over two decades of experience in networking and to integrate technologies from prior acquisitions like Highwinds. Charnock's tenure focused on enhancing StackPath's edge platform, including advancements in compute and delivery services stemming from the 2017 Highwinds integration, which bolstered global CDN capabilities. Board members from investors, such as from ABRY Partners and Kevin Hutchins from —added following the 2020 Series B funding round—provided oversight on product development and go-to-market strategies, supporting a $216 million raise led by and . Turco played a central role in navigating StackPath's divestitures amid declining viability in the CDN sector, including the August 2023 agreement with to acquire approximately 100 enterprise customer contracts, adding about $20 million in annual recurring revenue to Akamai. This was followed by the March 2024 sale of StackPath's and protection solution to Gcore, enabling the preservation of security features for customers during the company's wind-down. Executives under Turco's guidance managed these transitions to minimize disruptions, with a focus on migrating services to partners like Akamai. In the lead-up to closure, StackPath's leadership, led by Turco, communicated the shutdown decision via customer emails on June 14, 2024, emphasizing an orderly liquidation process and support for transitioning remaining and infrastructure assets. This approach ensured continuity for clients, with the company ceasing operations by late June 2024 while auctioning through Hilco Streambank.

References

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.