NetFabric, an ETH Zurich spin-off pioneering advancements in network observability, has snapped $2.2 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Founderful (which invested in Axmed and mimic) and Playfair Capital (which invested in Nory and Qureight).
The investment will drive the development of NetFabric’s network observability platform, accelerating development to meet the evolving needs of a $197 billion industry increasingly dependent on robust network performance. At the same time, the company will also focus on expanding its team and seeking candidates for key roles, while inviting potential design partners to reach out for collaboration.
What challenge does it challenge?
While the network monitoring industry grapples with persistent challenges, downtime remains a critical issue for enterprises worldwide. The financial repercussions of network outages are staggering, with even short disruptions translating into multimillion-dollar losses. For instance, Amazon reported a $34 million revenue loss from just one hour of downtime in 2021. Beyond revenue losses, downtime disrupts operations, ties up skilled engineers in troubleshooting tasks, and jeopardises customer trust.
As a result, extensive manual troubleshooting is often necessary to pinpoint the root causes of problems, requiring engineers to spend considerable time deciphering alerts and navigating misleading signals. This not only prolongs downtime but also exacerbates operational inefficiencies.
NetFabric is set to disrupt the industry, tackling these challenges with a groundbreaking approach to network observability.
The team behind NetFabric
The company was founded by Dr. Tobias Bühler and Prof. Laurent Vanbever, both with a decade of research experience in analysing computer networks. It is also powered by a team with deep expertise in network monitoring and AI. They include Dr. Benjamin Bichsel and Prof. Martin Vechev, whose contributions to AI and programming paradigms have earned global recognition.
In addition, Marlene Brakhane and Boris Paskalev round out the team with extensive business acumen and a successful track record in entrepreneurship.
What does the company do?
Unlike traditional solutions, NetFabric seamlessly merges observations coming from a wide range of network sources, such as routing information, forwarding tables, device configurations, or logs into one coherent knowledge base. As a result, it delivers actionable intelligence, offering a comprehensive and accurate understanding of network issues while effectively managing the flood of alerts from conventional tools.
Notably, the company integrates large language models (LLMs) to handle non-standard data sources and user queries effectively. Also, it complements LLMs with advanced mathematical models informed by a decade of academic research.
This dual approach allows NetFabric to innovate on both fronts, offering a comprehensive view of large, complex networks, incorporating all relevant data sources, and providing precise alerts when issues arise. By minimising false-positive alerts and optimising resource allocation, organisations can mitigate downtime risks and maintain operational continuity.
“Current monitoring tools only provide basic insights into the complex inner workings of networks,” said Prof. Laurent Vanbever, co-Founder and Chief Scientist of NetFabric. “They often rely on fragmented data sources, leading to false positives and inadequate problem resolution. Consequently, these tools frequently fail to deliver timely and accurate insights into network issues.”
“Our mission is to empower enterprises with a comprehensive understanding of their networks,” added Benjamin Bichsel, co-founder and CEO of NetFabric. “By eliminating the guesswork in network troubleshooting, we enable businesses to redirect engineering resources towards innovation and growth.”
What do we think about NetFabric?
By merging diverse data sources into a coherent knowledge base and integrating language models and advanced mathematical techniques, the company offers precise, actionable insights, minimising downtime and enhancing operational efficiency.
With a strong team and cutting-edge technology, NetFabric is set to significantly impact the $197 billion industry, driving advancements in network performance and reliability for enterprises worldwide.
