VMware Marks 25 Years Anniversary

Cloud computing and virtualization technology company VMware this month marked its 25th anniversary. VMware was founded on February 10, 1998, by five technologists from Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley, led by founding CEO Diane Greene above a deli in Palo Alto, Calif.

They pioneered x86 virtualization, a technical accomplishment that most in the industry then considered impossible. This technology has proven to be one of the most transformational inventions in our industry over the last 50 years. It is the foundational technology underlying the cloud revolution.

“From our humble beginnings to today, we have grown to well over 35,000 employees around the world and generated more than 5,000 patents. VMware serves over 99 per cent of the companies listed in the Fortune 1000, and our software runs the world’s largest banks, telcos, hospitals, airlines, and non-profit institutions,” VMware CEO Raghu Raghuram said in a letter posted on the company’s website.

During its 25 years of existence, Raghuram said the company has pioneered breakthrough innovations in enterprise software and cloud services and has helped promote sustainability.

“Our technology has helped save more than 1.2 billion metric tons of carbon emissions. The remarkable thing is these sustainability benefits will only grow as we work toward our goal of helping our customers decarbonize their digital infrastructures as part of our 2030 Agenda,” he said.

In honour of the company’s anniversary, Raghuram said VMware will give every employee an opportunity to direct a $250 donation to a non-profit of their choice.