Clazar Secures $10M Series A Funding to Innovate SaaS Sales in Cloud Marketplaces

Clazar, a startup automating software sales via cloud marketplaces, has raised $10 million in Series A funding led by Ridge Ventures and Ensemble VC. Founded in 2023, Clazar has now secured a total of $14 million to address the technical and operational challenges of selling on Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.

"When we launched Clazar, everything aligned—we were seasoned in scaling startups, identified the right issue with cloud marketplaces, and timed our entry perfectly. Once our product hit the market, we experienced immediate traction," said Trunal Bhanse, CEO and co-founder of Clazar, in an exclusive interview.

Clazar’s platform integrates seamlessly with major cloud marketplaces like AWS, simplifying the co-selling process for software vendors.

Eliminating Cloud Go-to-Market Complexity

Larger software firms, such as Confluent—where Bhanse previously served as director of engineering—often invest heavily in selling through cloud marketplaces. Clazar's mission is to make this functionality accessible to software vendors of all sizes.

"Integrating CRM systems used by sales teams with the technical interfaces of cloud marketplaces is a complex challenge," stated Aayush Bahuguna, co-founder and CTO of Clazar. "Our platform empowers sales teams to manage the entire quote-to-cash process on cloud marketplaces seamlessly."

Navigating registration, listing, marketplace updates, and interconnectivity between cloud partner portals and CRM systems comes with technical complexity and resource demands. Clazar's platform alleviates this overhead, accelerating revenue generation for software vendors.

Cloud Marketplaces as the Default for B2B Software Sales

With projections indicating cloud marketplaces will facilitate $45 billion in third-party software sales by 2025, Clazar is poised for significant growth within this transformative landscape.

“Traditional sales methods like cold calling and mass emails are becoming obsolete. Cloud marketplaces simplify the procurement process,” Bhanse said. “In a few years, this will be the standard for every SaaS company looking to enhance their go-to-market strategy.”

Clazar anticipates that, within the next 5 to 10 years, cloud marketplaces will be the primary approach for B2B software sales. Buyers favor marketplaces for their streamlined procurement process and the ability to utilize cloud spending commitments, which can result in accelerated sales cycles, larger deal sizes, and win rates that are up to 27% higher.

Scaling to Cement Early Traction

Since its launch less than a year ago, Clazar has attracted around 100 paying customers, highlighting substantial demand for its solution. The Series A funding will enable the company to expand its go-to-market initiatives, enhance product features, and grow its team to seize the significant market opportunity.

“The Series A funding allows us to build a robust go-to-market team, working closely with our customers as trusted advisors while we roll out our product,” Bhanse noted.

As established software vendors and startups alike seek to solidify their positions in cloud marketplaces, Clazar aims to become the essential platform for this transition. Building its product and go-to-market teams will be crucial for maintaining early momentum and countering potential competitors.

With current estimates indicating that 25-30% of enterprise software procurement occurs through cloud marketplaces—projected to reach 75% by 2026 according to Bessemer Venture Partners—Clazar is strategically positioned. As the cloud evolves into the leading sales channel for software, Clazar is set to be a driving force for seamless transactions in these marketplaces.