ActiveState Software Inc. is a Canadian software which creates tools for managing open source software in business. The company's work includes vulnerability management, container security, and supply chain security.
As of 2025, ActiveState reports serving approximately 94,000 monthly active users and supporting more than 40 million open source libraries.[1] The company states that its platform is compliant with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF).[2]
ActiveState has partnered with distributors such as Carahsoft[3] and Aquion.[4]
ActiveState is privately held and jointly owned by its employees and Vertu Capital, a Canadian private equity firm.[5][6]
History
ActiveState Software Inc. was founded in 1997 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, by Dick Hardt, David Ascher, and others, with the goal of adapting open source programming languages for commercial use. The company became known for commercial distributions of languages such as Perl, Python, and Tcl for Windows and enterprise platforms.[7]
In 2003, the company was acquired by British security software firm Sophos, a UK-based security software company, and operated as a wholly owned subsidiary.[8] In January 2006, ActiveState was purchased by Pender Financial Group, a Canadian investment company.[9]
In early 2021, ActiveState received a strategic investment from Turn/River Capital, a San Francisco-based private equity firm.[10] On November 7, 2023, the company was acquired by Vertu Capital, a Canadian private equity firm, and became jointly owned by Vertu Capital and ActiveState employees.[11]
Subsidiaries
Awards and recognition
ActiveState was named a "Top 25 Publisher" by ComponentSource in 2021.[16]
In 2024, Chief Executive Officer Stephen Baker was named among the "Top 50 Software CEOs" by The Software Report.[17] In the same year, Chief Marketing Officer Allyson Barr was included in the publication's list of "Top 50 Women Leaders in Software."[18]
References
- ↑ "Your All-in-One Vulnerability Management Platform". September 22, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ↑ "We Are ActiveState". Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ↑ "ActiveState and Carahsoft Partner to Bring Secure Open Source Management Platform to Public Sector". June 23, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ↑ "ActiveState Partners with Aquion to Deliver Comprehensive Open Source Supply Chain Security to the Australian Market". March 10, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ↑ "Private equity firm Vertu Capital acquires developer platform ActiveState". Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ↑ "ActiveState Software, a Portfolio Company of Turn/River Capital, Acquired by Vertu Capital". Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ↑ "About ActiveState". October 10, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ↑ "Sophos acquires ActiveState". September 24, 2003. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ↑ "Pender Financial acquires ActiveState assets of Sophos for US$2.25 million". January 2006. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ↑ "ActiveState Raises Strategic Investment To Accelerate Its Vision For Modern Security-First Software Development". January 29, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ↑ "Private equity firm Vertu Capital acquires developer platform ActiveState". November 7, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ↑ "ActiveState Acquires Perl Cloud Company, Phenona, to Accelerate Cloud Strategy". June 14, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ↑ Clarke, Gavin (June 14, 2011). "Teen sells Perl cloud startup to ActiveState". The Register. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ↑ "ActiveState Acquires Appsecute: Private-PaaS Leader Purchases Social DevOps Solutions Provider". June 4, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ↑ Copeland, Bart (June 5, 2013). "Going Social: Why ActiveState Acquired Appsecute". Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ↑ "ComponentSource Announces 2021 Award Winners". May 30, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ↑ "The Top 50 Software CEOs of 2024". January 7, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ↑ "The Top 50 Women Leaders in Software of 2024". February 5, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.