Emerging doesn't mean what it used to. And this collection of up-and-comers and new-to-the-game vendors is on an upward trajectory that a host of young companies that preceded them could barely imagine.
With new innovations like cloud computing and virtualization speeding up the pace of innovation and technology mainstays like storage and networking branching off into new directions, this list encapsulates a tectonic technology shift where the recently founded are starting to rule the roost and become household names much more quickly than in the past.
This list comprises companies from every discipline and technology facet. The only rules: They must have been established or have undergone a major transformation in 2005 or later and have a strategy to leverage the channel to go to market. Each of these companies brings something different to the table, and each has a fresh perspective. And some are already gaining a foothold in the bustling IT marketplace.
Among these emerging vendors you'll find companies that have already established themselves as big dogs in their market segment, and others that just kicked off earlier this year, but are already creating chatter. They represent new partnership and go-to-market opportunities for solution providers looking to separate the wheat from the chaff in an IT market that is becoming increasingly more crowded and noisy.
2011 is the year where emerging turns to emerged and startups and upstarts take hold. Here are 2011's emerging vendors.
CompanyTech SectorLocationProduct Line
3CXNetworkingKingston Upon Thames, England 3CX Phone System, software-based VoIP IP PBX
3X SystemsStorageColumbus, OhioPrivate Cloud Backup and Disaster Recovery Appliance
6FusionServicesRaleigh, N.C.Utility Computing6 software platform that allows users to tap into the utility, build servers and scale applications
AbiquoCloud ComputingRedwood City, Calif.Open source cloud management solutions
AccelOpsSoftwareSanta Clara, Calif.AccelOps Platform data center monitoring
ActifioVirtualizationWaltham, Mass.Actifio VDP--Virtual Data Management for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, test and development, compliance and analytics
AdaptevaHardwareLexington, Mass.Epiphany multicore processor architecture
Aerohive NetworksNetworkingSunnyvale, Calif.Cloud-enabled Wi-Fi and routing solutions
AHX GlobalMobilityEvesham, EnglandiTablet tablet computer
Akiban TechnologiesSoftwareBostonAkiban Server--open, scalable, relational database platform
AkorriVirtualizationLittleton, Mass.BalancePoint virtual infrastructure management software
AlertBootSecurityLas VegasAlertBoot Full Disk Encryption
Alpine Data LabsSoftwareSan Mateo, Calif.Alpine Miner dating mining
amplidataStorageRedwood City, Calif.AmpliStor data optimized object storage solutions
AppAssure SoftwareSoftwareReston, Va.Replay4 is the world's fastest backup and recovery software, recovering any Windows application server in 15 minutes or less, with no more than 15 minutes of potential application data loss
ArcMailStorageShreveport, La.ArcMail's Defender line of e-mail archiving appliances is sold worldwide and includes models ranging in capacity from 500 GB to 16 TB, with larger customized solutions also available
Armorize TechnologiesSecuritySanta Clara, Calif.Armorize Appsec Suite Web app security
AryakaNetworkingMilpitas, Calif.Aryaka cloud-based WAN optimization and application acceleration
AutoVirtStorageNashua, N.H.AutoVirt data virtualization solution
Avenda SystemsSecuritySanta Clara, Calif.Avenda provides the channel with a complete network access security solution for wireless, wired and VPN networks
AxcientStorageMountain View, Calif.Axcient Data Backup, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Solution
Big Switch NetworksNetworkingPalo Alto, Calif.OpenFlow architecture
Bigfoot NetworksHardwareRedwood City, Calif.Killer Network Cards, network interface cards
BizroofSoftwareSan FranciscoBizroof CRM
BridgeSTORStoragePoway, Calif.Advanced data reduction primary and backup storage appliances for Microsoft Windows applications
BurstPoint NetworksNetworkingWestborough, Mass.VCP Manager enterprise video management and distribution
CalxedaData CenterAustin, TexasCalxeda ARM-based Server Reference Design
CertiVoxSecuritySan FranciscoCertiVox Key Management Infrastructure-as-a-Service
Ciphertex Data SecuritySecurityChatsworth, Calif.CX Ranger data security and network attached storage products
ClearCenterOtherOrem, Calif.ClearCenter provides a ClearOS-based network, gateway and server Hybrid IT platform for service providers; ClearCenter offers both software and hardware appliance products
Cloud CruiserCloud ComputingRoseville, Calif.Cloud Optimizer cloud cost optimization tool
CloudEnginesCloud ComputingSan FranciscoPogoPlug software for cloud storage/streaming
CloudOptixCloud ComputingBoca Raton, Fla.MeghaWare cloud virtualization software unifies public and private clouds into a custom hybrid cloud environment
CloudPassageCloud ComputingSan FranciscoHalo architecture, cloud server security platform
CloudShareCloud ComputingSan Mateo, Calif.CloudShare Enterprise IT environment replication, sharing
CloudSwitchCloud ComputingBurlington, Mass.CloudSwitch Enterprise enables enterprises to run applications in the cloud simply and securely, without rearchitecting the application or changing management tools and policies
CloupiaCloud ComputingSanta Clara, Calif.Cloupia Unified Infrastructure Controller
ConformitySoftwareAustin, TexasConformity/Connect SaaS application management platform
CorelyticsSoftwareBellevue, Wash.Corelytics Financial Dashboard--Better Insight, Better Business Faster; packed with Industry Intelligence
CovertixSecurityEven Yehuda, IsraelCovertix's flagship product, SmartCipher, is a file-level information rights management (IRM) application that monitors and secures confidential documents and sensitive data
CrestaTechHardwareSanta Clara, Calif.CrestaTV Universal Broadband Receiver, programmable RF, algorithms and parallel processing
Ctera NetworksStoragePetah Tikvah, IsraelCtera's Cloud Attached Storage solution combines on-premises appliances with cloud services to provide an integrated, all-in-one solution for shared storage, data protection and collaboration
CumuluxCloud ComputingChicagoManage Axis cloud monitoring and management
CustoraSoftwareSan FranciscoCustora Business Intelligence and customer retention software
DatameerSoftwareSan Mateo, Calif.Datameer Analytics Solution
