Chainguard launches partner programme after $356 million raise

Chainguard has announced the launch of its Global Partner Program aimed at helping channel partners deliver trusted open source software to customers.

The new initiative intends to bridge the gap between traditional channel models and increasingly complex cloud ecosystems. Chainguard will be working alongside several major cloud service providers, including AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure, to offer more cohesive and scalable security solutions through its channel partners.

Key programme features

The Chainguard Partner Program introduces a two-tier structure with increasing benefits based on partner engagement and impact. Among the main features are incentives via sourced deals, co-sell influence, and customer referrals. Technical enablement is a significant component, with partner-exclusive training, onboarding, deal registration, lead creation tools, and access to both Partner and Technical Advisory Councils. The programme also offers joint go-to-market support, including account mapping, sales enablement, marketing support, and co-branded initiatives. Early adopters are given a first-mover advantage in delivering a new solution category before competitors can enter the space.

The launch and expansion of this programme are being supported by Chainguard's recent Series D funding round, which saw the company raise $356 million at a valuation of $3.5 billion, intended to drive the company's next stage of growth.

The need for secure OSS

Open source software now accounts for more than 90% of the code in modern applications, significantly increasing the importance of robust software supply chain security. Recent high-profile incidents such as attacks targeting SolarWinds, Log4Shell, and xz-utils have elevated concerns among organisations, which now face stricter regulatory requirements and compliance mandates from frameworks such as FedRAMP, PCI, NIST SSDF, DORA, CRA, and HIPAA. The proliferation of sovereign cloud initiatives has added further complexity to compliance and risk management.

"We're at a tipping point in software security. The growing reliance on open source, coupled with the rise in sophisticated supply chain attacks, has made it clear that reactive security models are no longer enough," said Ryan Carlson, President, Chainguard. "Organisations need to build fast, but they also need to do so securely – and that starts with trusted open source. With partners across the channel ecosystem, we're making it easier for the world's most innovative companies to build, deploy, and innovate on a foundation that's secure from the start."

Chainguard's approach is to provide trusted open source software that is rebuilt from source in hardened environments, thereby supporting engineering teams in securely developing and deploying new code without additional burdens.

Early engagement with channel partners

The first members of the Global Partner Program include Bytes, Defy, DevOps1, and EVOTEK. These partners will use Chainguard to speed up developer productivity, facilitate compliance processes, and raise security standards for their clients.

"At Bytes, we actively seek out vendors who disrupt conventional thinking and bring innovative perspectives to the cyber security landscape," said Luke Kiernan, Head of Cyber Security, Bytes. "From our first interaction with Chainguard, it was evident they embodied this mindset, delivering a forward-thinking, developer-first approach to securing the software supply chain. We look forward to developing our partnership and driving greater value for our customers through modern, resilient, and secure software practices."

"Chainguard is solving one of the most urgent problems in enterprise technology today – securing the software supply chain without slowing down development," said Rich Douros, Chief Revenue Officer, Defy. "Their secure-by-default approach is exactly what our customers need to build with confidence and speed."

"At DevOps1, our mission is to help our customers build secure, scalable systems that empower our clients to move fast without compromising security," said Alex Rea, CEO, DevOps1. "Partnering with Chainguard, the market-leading solution for software supply chain security, enables us to embed robust, verifiable security ensuring a 'Start Left' posture in the development lifecycle. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to delivering modern DevSecOps practices with confidence, integrity, and speed."

"All organizations want to accelerate their software development, but they can't do that without having a way to secure the applications they're building," said Jason Myers, Chief Revenue Officer, EVOTEK. "Chainguard's approach to delivering continuously verified open source software aligns perfectly with our mission to help enterprises build secure, scalable infrastructure."

Enhancing OSS integrity

Chainguard's offerings centre around delivering open source components that are rebuilt from source within secure infrastructure and with verified end-to-end integrity. This is exemplified by Chainguard Containers, a catalogue featuring over 1,500 zero-CVE (common vulnerabilities and exposures) container images. The containers offer customisation, a reduced attack surface, and continuous daily updates, thereby ensuring supply chain integrity for containerised applications. Powered by Chainguard OS, the service includes transparent provenance, enforcement of FIPS cryptography, signed software bill of materials and attestations, and secure system hardening.

For partners in the programme, this portfolio is designed to accelerate client compliance efforts, strengthen security postures, and enable engineering teams to focus on secure product development.