VKernal Corp., a provider of virtual appliances for managing virtual server environments raised $4.6 million in first-round

PRESS RELEASE

VKernel Corporation, a provider of easy-to-use and quick-to-deploy virtual appliances for managing virtual server environments, announced today the company has raised $4.6 million in its initial institutional round of funding. The round was co-led by Hummer Winblad Venture Partners and Polaris Venture Partners.

VKernel will use the funds to advance product development, increase sales, and expand market awareness. Additionally, Mitchell Kertzman of Hummer Winblad and Dave Barrett of Polaris will join VKernel's Board of Directors.

"The server virtualization market is growing explosively," said Mitchell Kertzman, managing director at Hummer Winblad. "This has us very excited about VKernel's vision as it is providing the essential tools for IT staffs to virtualize their environments faster, more cost-effectively, and with greater confidence."

"We believe organizations will see VKernel technology as a vital component of successful virtualization projects," stated Dave Barrett, general partner at Polaris Venture Partners. "The company's executive team has a solid track record of growing businesses from the ground up, and we fully anticipate VKernel will rapidly become a player in this market."

VKernel, first launched in January 2007, is building a suite of "plug-and-play" virtual appliances designed to quickly solve real world systems management challenges as organizations migrate to virtual server environments. VKernel's patent-pending Chargeback appliance is certified by VMware, and enables IT groups to immediately solve today's critical pain points by providing cost visibility into the resource consumption of each virtual machine, resource pool, host, or cluster.

"Organizations of all sizes are virtualizing their server farms, which is creating a new set of systems management challenges," said Alex Bakman, founder and CEO of VKernel. "To be successful, IT groups need tools that address their most pressing issues. Unlike traditional systems management products that are difficult to install, learn, and use, VKernel is delivering tiny virtual appliances designed to solve specific issues."

VKernel's Chargeback Virtual Appliance is available for download on the company's website. For additional information, pricing, and how to purchase, visit www.vkernel.com.

About VKernel Corporation

Based in Portsmouth, NH, VKernel is dedicated to developing best-of-breed virtual appliances that enhance performance, lower costs, and simplify management of virtual environments of all sizes. As a certified VMware partner, VKernel offers the industry's only VMware certified virtual appliances for analyzing capacity, chargeback, and cost visibility. For more information, visit www.vkernel.com.

About Polaris Venture Partners

A national venture capital firm with over $3 billion under management, Polaris invests in seed, early stage and growth equity businesses in the technology, life science, digital media, enertech and consumer sectors. Through a philosophy of lead investing and active, long-term partnering with entrepreneurs and management teams, Polaris has helped many companies achieve outstanding success. For more information, visit www.polarisventures.com

About Hummer Winblad Venture Partners

Hummer Winblad Venture Partners is a leading venture capital firm focused on software investing and manages over $1 billion in cumulative capital. Since Hummer Winblad Venture Partners' inception in 1989 the firm has launched over 100 new software companies. For more information, visit www.humwin.com.