CloudBolt Software, a cloud cost management provider, has acquired StormForge, a provider of machine learning-powered Kubernetes resource optimization. CloudBolt first partnered with StormForge in early 2024, when the company became the inaugural member of CloudBolt’s Technical Alliance Program (TAP). With this acquisition, CloudBolt will fully integrate StormForge’s patent-pending machine learning capabilities into its FinOps platform.
As Kubernetes adoption grows, so do the challenges. Organizations are grappling with cost management, performance, and visibility. A recent Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) survey found that Kubernetes has driven up cloud spend for 49% of organizations, with 70% citing overspend as directly related to workload over-provisioning.
These inefficiencies stem from two key challenges: the inherently dynamic nature of container workloads, which can make proper resource allocation and rightsizing extremely difficult, and the complexity of Kubernetes environments, which obscures granular cost visibility. CloudBolt said its acquisition of StormForge tackles these challenges head-on by providing a comprehensive solution that closes the financial operations for Kubernetes loop, enabling businesses to inform, optimize, and operate containers with efficiency.
StormForge helps enterprises optimize Kubernetes workloads safely, automatically, and at scale. It automatically adjusts resource requests and limits, along with the target utilization of the HPA, to match real-time demand, minimizing the risk of performance issues while reducing cost waste across all Kubernetes deployments.
“StormForge’s innovative approach to Kubernetes optimization complements our vision perfectly,” said Craig Hinkley, CEO of CloudBolt. “This acquisition is like two pieces of a puzzle snapping into place, seamlessly integrating their technology into our third-generation FinOps platform. The market has been calling for a more unified, streamlined, and intelligent way to manage costs and optimize Kubernetes operations—together, we’re delivering exactly that.”
“By combining our intelligent Kubernetes optimization platform with CloudBolt’s industry-leading cloud cost visibility, customers will now receive a closed loop solution, from reporting, through proven and powerful optimization capabilities,” said Rod Squires, CEO of StormForge. “Our shared goal is clear, to empower FinOps leaders with the tools that platform engineers trust, and break open the longstanding ‘black box’ of container spending. Together, we’re making Kubernetes optimization smarter, more transparent, and more actionable than ever before with a tool developed by engineers, for engineers.”
StormForge’s COO Yasmin Rajabi will join CloudBolt’s executive team as its new chief strategy officer. StormForge’s founding engineer, John Platt, will continue accelerating AI/ML across CloudBolt’s entire platform.
