View source for WSO2

{{short description|Company providing open-source middleware}}
{{Infobox company
| name = WSO2 LLC
| logo = WSO2 Software Logo.png
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| genre =
| fate =
| predecessor =
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| founded = {{Start date and age|2005|08|04|mf=yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sanjivaweerawarana_happy-19th-birthday-wso2-activity-7225707519233417216-s2C_?|title=Happy 19th Birthday WSO2! - Sanjiva Weerawarana|access-date=4 August 2024}}</ref>
| founders = {{unbulleted list<!--alphabetical by surname-->
|Paul Fremantle
|[[Sanjiva Weerawarana]]
}}
| defunct =
| hq_location_city = [[Santa Clara, CA]]
| hq_location_country = [[United States]]
| num_locations = 11
| num_locations_year = 2023<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wso2.com/contact/|title=WSO2: Contact Us|access-date=2 June 2023}}</ref>
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{ubl|[[Vinny Smith]] ([[Executive Chairman]])|[[James Clark (programmer)|James Clark]] ([[Director (business)|Director]])}}
| industry = [[Middleware]]
| products =
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| owner = [[EQT Private Capital Asia]]
| num_employees = 900+<ref>{{cite web |title=about WSO2 |url=https://wso2.com/about/ |website=WSO2 |access-date=2 June 2023}}</ref>
| parent =
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| subsid =
| homepage = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes =
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}}
'''WSO2 LLC''' is an [[open-source license|open-source]] technology provider founded in 2005. It delivers software and cloud solutions that provide foundational technologies for application development and identity and access management (IAM).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=WSO2 Home page |url=https://wso2.com/node/23334/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=wso2.com}}</ref> This represents an expansion upon its original focus on integrating [[application programming interface]]s (APIs), applications, and web services locally and across the Internet.
In 2024, the company was taken private by [[EQT AB|EQT's]] fund, [[EQT Private Capital Asia]].
== History ==
WSO2 was founded by [[Sanjiva Weerawarana]], Paul Fremantle, and Davanum Srinivas in August 2005, backed by [[Intel Capital]], Toba Capital, and Pacific Controls. Weerawarana<ref>{{Cite web|title = WSO2 Ten Years: It Takes Two to Tango! {{!}} The Source|url = http://wso2.com/blogs/thesource/2015/08/wso2-ten-years-it-takes-two-to-tango/|website = wso2.com|access-date = 2015-11-12}}</ref> was an [[IBM]] researcher and a founder of the Web services platform.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.w3.org/TR/2006/CR-wsdl20-20060327/wsdl20-z.pdf|title=Web Services Description Language (WSDL) 1.1|date=<!--15-->|website=W3C}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.w3.org/TR/2006/CR-wsdl20-20060327/wsdl20-z.pdf|title=Web Services Description Language (WSDL) Version 2.0 Part 1: Core Language|date=27 February 2006|website=W3C}}</ref> He led the creation of IBM SOAP4J,<ref>{{Cite web|title=10 years of SOAP!|url=http://sanjiva.weerawarana.org/2010/04/10-years-of-soap.html|last=Weerawarana|first=Sanjiva|language=en|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> which later became Apache SOAP, and was the architect of other notable projects. Fremantle was one of the authors of IBM's Web Services Invocation Framework and the Web Services Gateway.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Workshop: WSO2 Integration Platform Discovery|url = https://wso2.com/events/workshops/2013-september-manchester-wso2-integration-platform-discovery-workshop/|website = wso2.com|access-date = 2019-07-18}}</ref> An Apache member since the original Apache SOAP project, Fremantle oversaw the donation of WSIF and WSDL4J to Apache and led IBM's involvement in the Axis C/C++ project.
Fremantle was WSO2's chief technology officer (CTO) from 2008-2020,<ref>{{Cite web|title = Sanjiva Weerawarana's Blog: Paul becomes CTO of WSO2|url = http://sanjiva.weerawarana.org/2008/04/paul-becomes-cto-of-wso2.html|website = sanjiva.weerawarana.org|access-date = 2015-11-12}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Paul Fremantle LinkedIn profile |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulfremantle/?originalSubdomain=uk}}</ref> and was named one of ''InfoWorld''<nowiki/>'s Top 25 CTOs his first year in the role.<ref>{{Cite web|title = The best CTOs of 2008|url = http://www.infoworld.com/article/2651996/it-careers/the-best-ctos-of-2008.html?page=2|website = InfoWorld| date=2 June 2008 |access-date = 2015-11-12}}</ref> Currently, Fremantle serves as a consultant for multiple technology companies, including WSO2.<ref name=":0" /> In 2017, Tyler Jewell took over as CEO <ref>{{Cite web|title = Time for a CEO change in WSO2|url = http://medium.com/@sanjiva.weerawarana/time-for-a-leadership-change-in-wso2-3bf2e4e5bec8|website =medium.com| date=12 September 2017 |access-date = 2018-05-16}}</ref> while Weerawarana focused on the Ballerina open-source project.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Ballerina - Announcing Ballerina 1.0 |url=https://blog.ballerina.io/posts/2019-09-09-annoucing-1.0.0/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=blog.ballerina.io |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Sanjiva Weerawarana LinkedIn Profile |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjivaweerawarana/}}</ref> In 2019, [[Vinny Smith]] became the Executive Chairman.<ref>{{Cite web|title = WSO2 Update: Goodbye Tyler, Hello Vinny!|url = https://wso2.com/blogs/thesource/2019/03/wso2-update-goodbye-tyler-hello-vinny/|website =wso2.com|access-date = 2019-04-01}}</ref> Weerawarana returned to the role of CEO in 2020.<ref name=":1" />
A subsidiary, WSO2Mobile, was launched in 2013, with Harsha Purasinghe of Microimage as the CEO and co-founder.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WSO2 Launches WSO2Mobile Subsidiary to Focus on Enterprise Mobile Applications and Device Management |url=https://wso2.com/about/news/wso2-launches-wso2mobile-subsidiary-to-focus-on-enterprise-mobile-applications-and-device-management/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=wso2.com |language=en}}</ref> In March 2015, WSO2.Telco was launched in partnership with Malaysian telecommunications company [[Axiata]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=WSO2, Axiata Group partner to launch open source API platform {{!}} Daily FT |url=https://www.ft.lk/it-telecom-tech/wso2-axiata-group-partner-to-launch-open-source-api-platform/50-468341 |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=www.ft.lk |language=English}}</ref> which held a majority stake in the venture.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Axiata to invest $2.6m in US-based WSO2 Telco Inc for 70% stake |url=https://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/axiata-to-invest-2-6m-in-us-based-wso2-telco-inc-for-70-stake-9578 |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=DealStreetAsia |language=en}}</ref> WSO2Mobile has since been re-absorbed into its parent company.
[[EQT AB]]'s Asian private fund EQT Private Capital Asia acquired the company for over $600 million in May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sawers |first=Paul |date=2024-05-02 |title=EQT snaps up API and identity management software company WSO2 for more than $600M |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/03/eqt-snaps-up-enterprise-software-company-wso2-for-more-than-600m/ |website=TechCrunch}}</ref> The acquisition was completed three months later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wso2.com/about/news/eqt-completes-acquisition-of-wso2/|title=EQT Completes Acquisition of WSO2|work=WSO2|access-date=2024-10-29|language=en}}</ref>
== Financial ==
In 2006, Intel Capital invested $4 million in WSO2,<ref>{{Cite web |title=WSO2 {{!}} Success Stories |url=http://www.intelcapital.com/success/wso2.html |access-date=2015-11-12 |website=www.intelcapital.com}}</ref> and continued to invest in subsequent years. In 2010, Godel Technologies invested in WSO2 for an unspecified amount,<ref>{{Cite web|title = GODELTECH INVESTS IN WSO2- Godel Technologies {{!}} WSO2 Inc|url = http://wso2.com/about/news/godeltech-invests-in-wso2-godel-technologies/|website = wso2.com|access-date = 2015-11-12}}</ref> and in 2012 the company raised a third round of $10 million.<ref>{{Cite web|title = SEC FORM D|url = https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1366380/000136638012000003/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml|website = www.sec.gov|access-date = 2015-11-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Funding Daily: A truly black Friday|url = https://venturebeat.com/2012/12/14/funding-daily-a-truly-black-friday/|website = VentureBeat| date=15 December 2012 |access-date = 2015-11-12}}</ref> Official WSO2 records point to this being from Toba Capital, Cisco, and Intel Capital.<ref>{{Cite web|title = WSO2 Attracts $10 Million in Funding Following 220% Year Over Year Growth in New Customer Adoption of WSO2's Cloud and Enterprise Middleware {{!}} WSO2 Inc|url = http://wso2.com/about/news/wso2-attracts-10-million-in-funding-following-220-year-over-year-growth-in-new-customer-adoption-of-wso2%25E2%2580%2599s-cloud-and-enterprise-middleware/|website = wso2.com|access-date = 2015-11-12}}</ref> In August 2015, a funding round led by Pacific Controls and Toba raised another $20 million.<ref>{{Cite web|title = SEC FORM D|url = https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1366380/000136638015000001/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml|website = www.sec.gov|access-date = 2015-11-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Open Source Cloud and Middleware Company WSO2 Attracts $20 Million in Funding Led by Pacific Controls, Global Provider of Internet of Things Managed Solutions|url = https://finance.yahoo.com/news/open-source-cloud-middleware-company-113000904.html|website = Yahoo Finance|access-date = 2015-11-12}}</ref> In November 2021, WSO2 obtained $90 million in financing from Goldman Sachs Asset Management Private Credit.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Goldman Sachs Injects $90 Million Into Low-Code Software Maker WSO2 |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/goldman-sachs-injects-90-million-into-low-code-software-maker-wso2-11636673371 |access-date=2023-05-31 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>  In May 2022, WSO2 completed its Series E funding with an additional $93 million investment from Info Edge.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-05-25 |title=WSO2 completes $93 mn series E funding with investment from Info Edge |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/wso2-completes-93-mn-series-e-funding-with-investment-from-info-edge-122052500727_1.html |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=www.business-standard.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Open-source engagement ===
Historically, WSO2 has had a close connection to the Apache community, with a significant portion of their products based on or contributing to the Apache product stack.<ref>{{Cite web|title = WSO2 and the Apache Way {{!}} WSO2 Inc|url = http://wso2.com/apache/|website = wso2.com|access-date = 2015-11-12}}</ref> Likewise, many of WSO2's top leadership have contributed to Apache projects. In 2013, WSO2 donated its Stratos project to Apache.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Avram|first1=Abel|title=WSO2 Donates Stratos to the Apache Foundation|url=https://www.infoq.com/news/2013/06/WSO2-Stratos-Apache|access-date=21 September 2016|publisher=InfoQ|date=24 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Mayer|first1=Chris|title=WSO2's DIY cloud Stratos welcomed into Apache Incubator|url=https://jaxenter.com/wso2s-diy-cloud-stratos-welcomed-into-apache-incubator-106216.html|access-date=21 September 2016|publisher=jaxenter|date=25 June 2013}}</ref>
WSO2 first introduced [[Ballerina (programming language)|Ballerina]], an open-source, general-purpose concurrent and strongly typed programming language with both textual and graphical syntaxes, optimized for integration in 2017.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Ballerina - Ballerina Home |url=https://ballerina.io/ |website=ballerina.io}}</ref> General availability of Ballerina 1.0 at <nowiki>https://ballerina.io</nowiki> was then announced in 2019.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Susan |date=2019-09-11 |title=Ballerina Programming Language Revamped, at 1.0 |url=https://thenewstack.io/ballerina-programming-language-revamped-at-1-0/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=The New Stack |language=en-US}}</ref> In a March 2023 product review, ''InfoWorld'' rated Ballerina 2201.4.0 (Swan Lake) 4 stars (out of a possible 5).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heller |first=Martin |date=2023-03-08 |title=Ballerina: A programming language for the cloud |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/3688921/ballerina-a-programming-language-for-the-cloud.html |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=InfoWorld |language=en}}</ref>
==Products==
WSO2 products are released under the [[Apache License]] Version 2.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.wso2.com/display/EI611/FAQ#FAQ-WhatistheopensourcelicenseofWSO2EnterpriseIntegrator?|title=FAQ - Enterprise Integrator 6.1.1 - WSO2 Documentation|website=docs.wso2.com}}</ref> Like the Apache project itself, WSO2 follows open development principles and publishes architecture and development discussions.
=== Early development ===
WSO2's first product was code-named Tungsten and was meant for the development of web applications. Tungsten was followed by WSO2 Titanium, which later became WSO2 [[Enterprise Service Bus]] (ESB).<ref>{{Cite web |title=WSO2: 10 years and flying high! |url=http://www.ft.lk/article/453323/WSO2--10-years-and-flying-high- |access-date=2015-11-12 |website=www.ft.lk}}</ref>
In February 2009, WSO2 introduced the WSO2 Carbon componentized framework based on the [[OSGi|Open Source Gateway Initiative]] (OSGi), designed to serve as the basis for all WSO2 software products.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krill |first=Paul |date=2009-02-06 |title=WSO2 offers open-source, componentized SOA |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2530684/wso2-offers-open-source--componentized-soa.html |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=Computerworld |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=WSO2 debuts Carbon Studio as a speedy IDE for SOA and composite applications-Dana Gardner, BriefingsDirect |url=https://wso2.com/about/news/wso2-debuts-carbon-studio-as-a-speedy-ide-for-soa-and-composite-applications-dana-gardnerbriefingsdirect/ |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=wso2.com |language=en}}</ref> Version 5.3.0 of the open-source WSO2 Carbon Kernel was released in December 2022 and updated in January 2023.<ref>{{Citation |title=Welcome to WSO2 Carbon Kernel |date=2023-03-23 |url=https://github.com/wso2/carbon-kernel |access-date=2023-06-01 |publisher=WSO2}}</ref>
=== Current offerings ===
WSO2 offers a platform of middleware products for [[agile software development|agile integration]], [[application programming interface]] (API) management, and [[Customer Identity Access Management|identity and access management]].
In June 2015, WSO2 announced its first generation of [[software as a service]] (SaaS) versions of its open-source products.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Avram|first1=Abel|title=WSO2 Announces API Cloud and App Cloud|url=https://www.infoq.com/news/2015/06/wso2-api-app-cloud|access-date=27 September 2016|publisher=InfoQ|date=3 June 2015}}</ref> As of Q1 2023, products include:
*WSO2 API Manager, a full life cycle API management platform which has incorporated the integration functionality of WSO2 Enterprise Integrator, since version 4.0 was introduced in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The #1 open-source platform for building and managing APIs with ease |url=https://wso2.com/api-manager/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=wso2.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-05-05 |title=WSO2 API Manager 4.0 Adds Support for Streaming and Event-Driven Architectures |url=https://aithority.com/technology/analytics/wso2-api-manager-4-0-adds-support-for-streaming-and-event-driven-architectures/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=AiThority |language=en-US}}</ref>
*Choreo, a SaaS internal developer platform to create, deploy, run, and govern APIs, integrations, and microservices on Kubernetes. WSO2 also offers Choreo API Manager and Choreo iPaaS.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krill |first=Paul |date=2022-03-30 |title=WSO2 launches low-code, cloud-native PaaS for API development |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/3654897/wso2-launches-low-code-cloud-native-paas-for-api-development.html |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=InfoWorld |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Choreo Internal Developer Platform |url=https://wso2.com/choreo/internal-developer-platform/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=wso2.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
*WSO2 Micro Integrator, an integration engine with a low-code graphical designer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WSO2 Micro Integrator |url=https://wso2.com/micro-integrator/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=wso2.com |language=en}}</ref>
*WSO2 Identity Server, which provides identity management capabilities with a focus on customer identity and access management (CIAM).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wso2.com/identity-server/|title=Identity Server - On-Premise and in the Cloud|website=wso2.com}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=WSO2 Named An Overall Leader And A Product Leader |url=https://wso2.com/resources/analyst-reports/kuppingercole-leadership-compass-ciam-platforms/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=wso2.com |language=en}}</ref>
*WSO2 Private CIAM Cloud. A cloud-hosted, managed service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WSO2 Launches WSO2 Private CIAM Cloud to Deliver Best-in-Class CIAM Support for Both B2B and B2C Demands – TECHNOLOGY RESELLER |url=https://technologyreseller.uk/wso2-launches-wso2-private-ciam-cloud-to-deliver-best-in-class-ciam-support-for-both-b2b-and-b2c-demands/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
*Asgardeo, an identity as a service (IDaaS) focused on CIAM.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=WSO2 delivers next-level CIAM with new release of Asgardeo IDaaS at KubeCon North America 2022 |url=https://itwire.com/guest-articles/company-news/wso2-delivers-next-level-ciam-with-new-release-of-asgardeo-idaas-at-kubecon-north-america-2022.html |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=itwire.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>
== Operations ==
As of 2023, WSO2 has offices in: [[Mountain View, California|Mountain View]], California; [[Austin, Texas]]; [[London]], UK; [[São Paulo]], Brazil; [[Sydney]], Australia; [[Munich]], Germany; [[Dubai]], United Arab Emirates; [[Mumbai]], India; [[Singapore]], and [[Colombo]], [[Sri Lanka]]. The bulk of its research and operations are conducted from its main office in Colombo.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Contact |url=https://wso2.com/contact/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=wso2.com}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Software companies of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Software companies of the United States]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in California]]
[[Category:2024 mergers and acquisitions]]