Historical provider.
Company outcome: unknown. Service outcome: unknown. Brand outcome: unknown. Recorded transaction: mixed; acquirer or counterparty: Akamai; dated 2020-02-27.

Overview

Instart supplied web-performance and security technology. In February 2020, Akamai announced that it had acquired selected customer contracts and intellectual property from Instart and would transition those customers to Akamai services. The announcement does not describe a whole-company acquisition, so the company’s final legal outcome and the disposition of unselected assets remain unknown.

Service status

Customers still using legacy Instart Logic services should migrate immediately, as the platform is no longer operational. Akamai, the acquirer, is the primary recommended alternative, offering robust CDN capabilities with global reach, advanced security (WAF, DDoS protection), and image optimization. Other alternatives include Cloudflare for developer-centric features or Fastly for edge compute and real-time logs. Check with Akamai for specific migration paths from Instart’s technology.

History timeline

  • 2010 — Instart Logic founded to improve web and mobile application delivery speeds.
  • 2016 — Acquired Kwicr, a mobile app accelerator, to enhance its technology offerings.
  • 2018 — Rebranded from Instart Logic to Instart, reflecting a focus on its Digital Experience Cloud.
  • February 2020 — Akamai acquired Instart Logic’s customer contracts and select intellectual property, transitioning customers to Akamai’s platform.
  • 2020 — Instart Logic ceased operations as a standalone entity post-acquisition.

History & Notes

Instart Logic was a notable CDN player, raising $167 million across multiple funding rounds from investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Kleiner Perkins. Its Digital Experience Cloud used AI and machine learning to optimize content delivery, particularly for e-commerce and media companies. The 2020 acquisition by Akamai included customer contracts and IP, primarily to enhance Akamai’s page integrity solutions. No official EOL notice remains publicly accessible, but Akamai’s press release confirms the transition (https://www.akamai.com/newsroom/press-release/akamai-technologies-acquires-customers-and-select-intellectual-property-from-instart).