Chainguard, Inc.

Chainguard, Inc. is a privately held cybersecurity company founded in 2021 with a mission to make open-source software trustworthy by default and secure the software supply chain. Headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, the company operates with a remote-first model, though its registered corporate office is located there. Chainguard champions a "start left" philosophy, embedding security from the initial stages of the development lifecycle rather than as an afterthought.

Chainguard provides a suite of products and services designed to reduce software supply chain risk. Its core offerings include hardened, minimal container images with zero known vulnerabilities (0CVEs), malware-resistant language libraries (Chainguard Libraries), and secure virtual machine images (Chainguard VMs). These products are built and continuously updated through the "Chainguard Factory," a system that ensures end-to-end integrity and provides Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs) and attestations for transparency. The company also offers educational resources through Chainguard Academy and supports open-source projects via Chainguard EmeritOSS.

Chainguard has experienced rapid growth, securing $280 million in growth financing in October 2025, following a $356 million Series D round in April 2025, bringing its total funding to approximately $892 million and valuing the company at $3.5 billion. The company reported annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $40 million in fiscal year 2025, with projections to exceed $100 million before fiscal year 2026. Led by CEO and co-founder Dan Lorenc, Chainguard is recognized as a leader in the cybersecurity space, particularly for its focus on securing open-source software in the age of AI. Its recent launch of Zero-CVE EKS Add-Ons on AWS Marketplace caters to regulated industries requiring FIPS-validated container images, further solidifying its market position.

Latest updates

Chainguard Secures EKS Compliance Niche with AWS Marketplace Entry

Event summary

  • Chainguard launched five FIPS-validated, zero-CVE EKS add-ons in the AWS Marketplace on April 30, 2026.
  • The add-ons provide a drop-in solution for organizations managing their own EKS node groups and requiring FIPS compliance.
  • Chainguard is now the sole third-party provider offering these validated EKS add-on images in the AWS Marketplace.
  • The company’s catalog includes over 2,300 hardened container images.
  • Chainguard is venture-backed by Amplify, IVP, Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Mantis VC, Redpoint Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and Spark Capital.

The big picture

The increasing sophistication of cyberattacks, particularly those targeting software supply chains, is driving demand for hardened container images and compliant infrastructure. Chainguard's entry into the AWS Marketplace addresses a specific pain point for organizations in regulated industries who require granular control over their Kubernetes deployments while adhering to stringent security and compliance standards like FedRAMP and FIPS 140-3. This move positions Chainguard to capitalize on the growing DevSecOps market and potentially disrupt the traditional managed Kubernetes service model.

What we're watching

Market Adoption
The success of Chainguard's offering hinges on adoption by enterprises seeking a balance between granular control and compliance, which may impact AWS's managed EKS Auto Mode.
Competitive Response
Other Kubernetes add-on providers will likely respond to Chainguard’s move, potentially driving down pricing or accelerating the development of their own FIPS-validated solutions.
AI Vulnerability
The stated acceleration of vulnerability discovery via AI will continue to pressure Chainguard to maintain its zero-CVE status and proactively address emerging threats.
CID: 2203