Code Rebel
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer software |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Arben Kane, Alex Kukhar, Volodymyr Bykov |
| Defunct | 2016 |
| Fate | Filed for bankruptcy; merged with Aegis Identity Software, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Kahului , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Arben Kane (Founder), Dr. James Canton (Director) |
| Products | iRAPP, iRAPP Terminal Server (iRAPP TS) |
Number of employees | 50 (2014) |
Code Rebel Corporation was a United States-based technology company established by Arben Kane, with its main office situated in Kahului, Hawaii. The firm specialized in developing and marketing computer software, focusing particularly on terminal services and virtualization products tailored for Apple Inc. devices.
By the end of 2014, Code Rebel's clientele included prominent Fortune 500 companies such as AT&T, Microsoft, Cisco, IBM, Bloomberg, and the University of California. The company went public in May 2015 and revealed plans for a merger with Aegis Identity Software, Inc. in early 2016. After the merger announcement, Code Rebel’s stock price doubled, with the transaction completed on March 11, 2016. However, the company filed for bankruptcy in May 2016.
Establishment and Expansion (2006–2014)
Arben Kane founded Code Rebel in 2006 alongside co-founders Alex Kukhar and Volodymyr Bykov. The company concentrated on creating an object-oriented remote access protocol that allowed users to connect to specific applications and maintain their active sessions. Their portfolio included software products related to terminal services and virtualization tailored for Apple hardware, notably the remote access tool iRAPP and its companion Mac terminal services product, iRAPP Terminal Server (iRAPP TS).
Code Rebel grew its customer base by supplying software solutions to companies such as Intuit, Bloomberg, and Wells Fargo. The firm also expanded operations partially to New York City. In 2010, it collaborated with the University of Alabama’s Management Information Systems department to develop applications for Apple iOS devices. By 2014, Kane managed a team of roughly 50 engineers spread across the United States and Europe. The company’s clients encompassed significant enterprises including Lloyds Bank, Merck, Panasonic, IKEA, as well as academic institutions like the University of Texas and University of Missouri.
Distribution of Code Rebel’s products was accomplished through direct sales channels alongside a reseller network consisting of 17 partners operating in nine countries by 2015. Its initial public offering in May 2015 marked the first tech IPO from Hawaii since 2000, listing on Nasdaq and experiencing a stock price increase exceeding 200% within just two days. That year also saw Dr. James Canton join the board as a director. On July 28, 2015, Code Rebel acquired ThinOps Resources for $9.25 million.
In January 2016, the company announced intentions to merge with Aegis Identity Software based in Colorado—a provider specializing in both on-premises and cloud identity and access management solutions aimed at K-12 and higher education sectors. The merger agreement was finalized on March 11, 2016; while operating jointly with Code Rebel, Aegis retained its original brand identity.
Technology
Code Rebel developed a remote access software suite including iRAPP and a Mac terminal services product called iRAPP Terminal Server (iRAPP TS). The iRAPP application allows users to remotely connect to their Mac desktops via the iRAPP protocol, facilitating simultaneous operation on both PC and Mac platforms or through any application compatible with Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). Meanwhile, iRAPP TS enables multiple users to access several virtual desktops simultaneously on one or more Macs—functionality comparable to Citrix solutions designed for Mac environments. This focus on Apple-centric offerings sets Code Rebel apart from most terminal services and virtualization vendors like VMware, Red Hat, Microsoft, and Citrix Systems, which predominantly concentrate on Windows-based platforms.
Legal
In 2005, Arben Kane (previously known as Kryeziu), the proprietor of Code Rebel, became associated with the contentious Cherry OS initiative, which was accused of utilizing PearPC code in breach of the GNU General Public License terms. In March 2011, Aqua Connect, a competing company, initiated legal action against Code Rebel alleging the misappropriation of trade secrets and leveraged the Cherry OS dispute to question Kane’s integrity. Following partial case dismissals and ongoing litigation, the matter proceeded to mandatory arbitration. On August 19, 2014, the U.S. District Court delivered a complete verdict favoring Code Rebel, concluding that Aqua Connect did not establish any unlawful conduct by Code Rebel.
On May 6, 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission halted trading of Code Rebel’s shares pending examination of previous filings. Shortly thereafter, on May 18, 2016, Code Rebel filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 due to insolvency.