HP Enterprise Acquires Docker Partner BlueData for AI, Machine Learning

HP Enterprise is acquiring BlueData, a Docker container partner that provides software for artificial intelligence and big data applications. The deal is expected to close sometime in January 2019. Financial terms were not disclosed.

BlueData, founded in 2012, is a privately-held company headquartered in Santa Clara. BlueData’s software platform uses Docker container technology to simplify large-scale machine learning and big data analytics deployments, HPE asserts.

BlueData has been growing rapidly in recent years. The company's revenues grew by 228% in 2017, attracting key customers such as Citigroup, GlaxoSmithKline, GM Financial, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Tesco Bank. Financial performance for 2018 has not been disclosed.

BlueData: HPE and Dell EMC Integrations

BlueData will integrate with various HPE enterprise systems and storage offerings, including Apollo Systems, according to Milan Shetti, SVP and GM of HPE's storage and big data global business unit.

BlueData has partnered closely with various big data software providers -- particularly Hadoop, Kafka and Spark companies like Cloudera, Confluent, Databricks, Hortonworks and MapR.

Ironically, BlueData also partners with such HPE rivals as Dell EMC. Key BlueData investors have included Dell Technologies Capital and Intel Capital.