Kong provides a cloud-based API management and microservices connectivity platform designed to help enterprises secure, scale, and monitor their digital ecosystems. Built on NGINX, Kong delivers high-performance traffic control, API analytics, and built-in plugins that extend functionality across applications. The platform integrates easily with major cloud providers, including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, giving customers full flexibility and deployment control. Used by leading organizations like Cisco, GSK, and PayPal, Kong enables modern businesses to innovate faster while maintaining robust API governance and security.
What Is Kong and What Does It Do?
Kong, founded in 2009 by Augusto Marietti, Marco Palladino, and Michele Zonca, is a San Francisco-based (United States) technology company specializing in API management and microservices connectivity.
Kong employs 128 professionals. Its cloud-based, open-source API gateway helps businesses monitor, protect, and optimize service-to-service communications.
Kong features RESTful APIs, automated traffic inspection, and pre-built plugins for developers. Designed for flexibility and scalability, Kong supports deployment across multi-cloud and hybrid environments, empowering enterprises to deliver reliable, high-speed digital experiences.
How Much Funding Has Kong Raised?
- Series D
• Amount Raised: $80 million
• Date: August 2024
• Lead Investors: Tiger Global Management
• Motivation: To strengthen Kong’s product innovation and accelerate hiring across engineering and sales. - Series D (First Tranche)
• Amount Raised: $100 million
• Date: December 2020
• Lead Investors: Tiger Global Management, Index Ventures, GGV Capital, Goldman Sachs, Andreessen Horowitz, CRV, Sapphire Ventures
• Motivation: To scale enterprise operations and invest in cloud-native infrastructure growth.
Total Funding Raised: $345 Million
Current Valuation: $2 Billion (as of October 2024)
Latest Funding Date: November 2024
Key Investors
- Sapphire Ventures
• Details: A Silicon Valley–based growth investor focusing on enterprise software and technology companies.
• Investment Focus Areas: Cloud infrastructure, SaaS, and API management.
• Notable Investments: Kong, MuleSoft, and DataRobot. - Tiger Global Management
• Details: A global investment firm with a strong track record in scaling late-stage technology companies.
• Investment Focus Areas: Fintech, software, and cloud computing.
• Notable Investments: Stripe, Databricks, and Kong. - Andreessen Horowitz
• Details: A U.S.-based venture capital firm backing transformative software and infrastructure companies.
• Investment Focus Areas: Developer tools, AI infrastructure, and open-source platforms.
• Notable Investments: GitHub, Databricks, and Kong. - Notable Capital (formerly GGV Capital)
• Details: A multi-stage global venture capital firm investing in enterprise, consumer, and frontier tech.
• Investment Focus Areas: Cloud computing, APIs, and SaaS.
• Notable Investments: Slack, HashiCorp, and Kong.
Where Is Kong’s Headquarters?
Kong is headquartered in San Francisco, California, a global technology hub that provides access to top engineering talent, enterprise clients, and cloud infrastructure innovators. Its strategic location near Silicon Valley enables collaboration with leading tech partners and investors, reinforcing its leadership in the API management and connectivity ecosystem.
What’s Next for Kong?
Kong plans to advance its AI-driven API management capabilities while expanding into new global markets. The company aims to empower enterprises with intelligent automation, enhanced observability, and secure multi-cloud interoperability. With continued investor support and a strong client base, Kong is positioned to lead the next phase of API innovation, focusing on performance optimization and developer-friendly extensibility across industries.
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