5 DevOps startups to bet your career on in 2019

Edith Harbaugh LaunchDarkly

DevOps, the term for a philosophy of combining software development and operations, is turning into a big business — as software continues eating the world, DevOps is a methodology for helping developers write more software, faster.

On a larger scale, tech giants are investing in DevOps as well. Just a few years ago, investors would have balked at developer-focused startups. But in 2018, the industry proved that it's here to stay. Microsoft acquired GitHub, Google Cloud is snapping up a DevOps research firm, and now, with DevOps startups, developers want in. These startups range from ones that help companies release code faster, to those that help IT departments keep up.

It's not just in terms of M&A, either. The most in-demand job that recruiters are looking for on LinkedIn is that of DevOps engineer. As those roles fill up, they'll need DevOps-focused tools to help them do their jobs. Enter the new class of DevOps startups that are helping plug that gap.

We looked at a variety of factors when selecting this list including the experience of leaders and founders, the reputations of investors and the amount of funding raised along with valuations, based on data from online finance database Pitchbook, keeper of such records. We also selected startups at a variety of stages from just starting out, to well established.

Here are the five DevOps startups to bet your career on in 2019:

NPM: a package manager

Valuation: $48 million
Total raised to date: $18.6 million
Year founded: 2014
HQ: Oakland, CA

What it does: NPM manages Node.js, which is one of the world's largest software registries and helps JavaScript developers easily share chunks of code.

Why it's hot: NPM has benefitted greatly from DevOps boom, and in just the last four years, it has already raised almost $19 million. As Node.js continues to grow in popularity, NPM stands to benefit.

LaunchDarkly: a on/off switch for test features

Valuation: $90 million
Total raised to date: $34.84 million
Year founded: 2014
HQ: Oakland, CA

What it does: LaunchDarkly helps developers test and manage how new features get deployed to an app's users. With LaunchDarkly, customers can quickly manage features, switching them on and off for select batches of test users.

Why it's hot: When LaunchDarkly first tried to raise seed funding in 2014, investors laughed. But fast forward to now, and DevOps is all the rage. LaunchDarkly, a DevOps startup, has proved that it can help with the practice of deploying code faster, something that is going to become increasingly important in the years to come.

Snyk: hunting through your software for threats

Valuation: $100 million
Total raised to date: $32.04 million
Year founded: 2015
HQ: London

What it does: Snyk automates the process of finding and fixing vulnerabilities in open source software. In other words, it continuously keeps a lookout for security issues in your code — and fixes them.

Why it's hot: This year, Snyk raised $22 million on a $100 million valuation. As breaches and vulnerabilities become more common and continue to make headlines, more venture capitalists are investing in security. This kind of approach will help DevOps teams make sure their software is secure, even as they accelerate the rate at which they deliver code.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider