Neverware
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology |
| Founded | January 1, 2011 |
| Founder | Jonathan Hefter |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States, United Kingdom |
Key people | Jonathan Hefter (Chairman) |
| Products | CloudReady, PCReady |
| Owner | |
| Parent |
Neverware Inc was a technology firm headquartered in New York and operated as a subsidiary under Google.
The company created CloudReady, a version of Google's ChromiumOS tailored for installation on pre-existing computers, in contrast to ChromeOS, which comes pre-installed on netbooks. Neverware marketed CloudReady as an affordable option to prolong the usability of older devices, especially within educational institutions, thereby contributing to the reduction of electronic waste.
Initially concentrating on the K-12 education market in the United States, Neverware revealed plans in October 2017 to enter the enterprise sector, supported by Series B funding led by Google. On December 16, 2020, Google completed its acquisition of Neverware.
History
Jonathan Hefter, an alumnus of Wharton Business School, began working on the foundational technology for Neverware in 2009. The company was officially established in Manhattan in early 2011 with Hefter taking on the role of chairman.
Following a successful pilot initiative, Neverware introduced its inaugural product, PCReady—a desktop virtualization solution—in January 2013. This product targeted K-12 schools across New York City to refurbish outdated computers for electronic standardized test administration. By 2015, PCReady had been implemented in 10% of schools throughout New York City.
Confronted with competition from Google's ChromeOS platform and Chromebooks, Neverware developed CloudReady, a ChromiumOS derivative designed to offer Chromebook-like advantages to a broader range of schools at a reduced cost.
In October 2017, Google led the Series B funding round for Neverware as a strategic investor. Subsequently, in March 2018, Neverware acquired Flint Innovations, the UK-based creator of Flint OS, another variant built on ChromiumOS.
After Google's acquisition of Neverware in December 2020, the company's staff integrated into the ChromeOS team without immediate alterations to CloudReady. In July 2022, Google introduced ChromeOS Flex—an official ChromeOS variant sharing similar objectives with CloudReady.
PCReady
Neverware’s initial offering, PCReady, was a multiseat desktop virtualization system designed to transform older machines into Windows 7–based thin clients through its remotely managed "Juicebox" server appliance. This platform was provided via a subscription model charged per client.
CloudReady
The company’s second product, CloudReady, is a ChromiumOS distribution intended for users and organizations wishing to install the operating system on existing hardware. Its commercial edition supports integration with Google's enterprise management tools, allowing legacy devices to function alongside native ChromeOS equipment.
Financing
Neverware attracted investment from leading technology firms and venture capitalists such as Google, Khosla Ventures, Upfront Ventures, Thrive Capital, General Catalyst Partners, Collaborative Fund, OurCrowd, and investor Mark Suster.
Recognition
The company received media coverage highlighting its backing by Google, its youthful founder, and its commitment to extending device lifespans to minimize EWaste. It has been featured by prominent publications including the Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, The Guardian, Forbes.com, The New York Times, and TechCrunch. Additionally, Neverware earned workplace excellence awards from organizations like Crain's New York, Built in NYC, Business Intelligence Group, and Great Place to Work.