CRN Exclusive: Networking Startup 128 Technology Launches Inaugural 'High-Margin' Partner Program

Fresh off its $21.5 million funding round, networking startup 128 Technology unveiled its first partner program on Monday with a global recruitment effort that seeks "next-generation" networking partners.

"This is an opportunity for partners to generate significant, sustained and high-margin revenue streams," said Brian Norris, vice president of solution partners for 128 Technology, in an interview with CRN. "We are rapidly recruiting and onboarding leading innovators in multiple industries that share our vision of session-oriented software-based routing, and our vision for transformative value that can be created through that dynamic."

The startup's 128T Networking Platform is a software-based, distributed routing and network services solution; it is sold as a monthly subscription and geared towards enterprises with complex networks. The platform uses secure routing to simplify network architectures, provides end-to-end control and visibility without disrupting existing network infrastructure, and enables customers to build networks that are session-based, software-defined and services-centric.

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The new 128 Technology Solution Partner Program provides solution providers multiple ways to quickly drive "significant" revenue streams selling 128T with rich services attached including professional services, consulting, implementation and Tier 1 and Tier 2 support, according to CEO Andy Ory.

"We're so excited about the partnership opportunity because in a world where things are becoming commoditized and margin-compressed, our technology represents a real opportunity to differentiate and provide significant value," said Ory. "When things have a lot of value, that means there's margin, and that means there's an opportunity for many hands to make light work."

The new program includes incentives as well as technical and sales training for partners. Solution providers can integrate 128T with their own offerings to deliver boarder managed services such as unified communications, hosted contact center and applications.

128 Technology is seeking MSPs, sales agents, support and service providers worldwide.

Burlington, Mass.-based 128 Technology, named in CRN's 10 Coolest Networking Startups of 2016, recently raised $21.5 million in a Series C funding round, bringing startup's total capital raised to $57 million.

The company's motto is: "The Internet is broken. We're here to fix it."

"Partners can dramatically reduce network complexity for customers. Our software can collapse various elements of the network into a single instance of our software. So we not only do routing, but we can provide load balancing, firewalling capabilities – so as you collapse those various elements of the network into a single instance of software, that removes complexity making networks much simpler," said Norris. "Our zero-trust security model provides the type of assurances that partners are looking for customers."

The vendor's initial focus is on Fortune 1,000 companies who have complex enterprise networks and are looking for software innovation to unlock applications and services. Some of the earliest buyers include large distributed retailers, healthcare, finance and cloud service providers.

"We're very excited to make this step [into the channel]," said Ory. "We are looking for partners that share our vision for next generation networking and have the desire to build long-term shareholder value for their own businesses."