Veeam Extends Partnership with Seattle Orcas, Paving the Way for Cricket’s Rise in America
Veeam, a leading data protection and ransomware recovery company, has announced a multi-year extension of its founding sponsorship agreement with the Seattle Orcas cricket team through 2027. The partnership, which began in 2023, has been instrumental in establishing Major League Cricket’s presence in the Seattle area.
The Kirkland-based tech company, whose logo adorns the team’s jerseys, is part of a prestigious group of technology industry leaders who have backed the cricket franchise. Notable investors include Microsoft’s Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella, Madrona Venture Group’s Managing Director S. Soma Somasegar, and several other prominent figures from the tech sector, including Icertis co-founder and CEO Samir Bodas, GreatPoint Ventures’ Ashok Krishnamurthi, and former Microsoft and Avalara executive Sanjay Parthasarathy.
Speaking about the extended partnership, Veeam’s CEO Anand Eswaran emphasized that the collaboration transcends mere brand visibility, representing a commitment to shared values of excellence and resilience. The announcement comes at a significant time for Veeam, which recently relocated its headquarters from Ohio to Kirkland, Washington in 2024. The move was strategically motivated by the region’s proximity to major cloud providers and its rich pool of technical talent.
Veeam’s growth trajectory has been impressive, with the company reaching a valuation of $15 billion in December. Their strategic positioning in the tech landscape was further strengthened in February when Microsoft made an equity investment in the company, deepening an already established partnership between the two organizations.
The company maintains a significant global presence with more than 5,000 employees across over 30 countries. While their Seattle-area workforce currently stands at approximately 100 employees, they maintain additional U.S. offices in Ohio, New York, Georgia, and Arizona.
Seattle Orcas’ CEO Hemant Dua expressed enthusiasm about the continued partnership, describing Veeam’s support as crucial to the team’s success. Dua outlined ambitious goals for the partnership, emphasizing its role in community building and establishing cricket as a premier summer sport in America, with aspirations to make the Seattle Orcas the nation’s favorite cricket team.
The timing of the sponsorship renewal is particularly relevant as the Seattle Orcas prepare for the upcoming 2025 Major League Cricket season, which begins on June 12. The team’s first match is scheduled for June 14, where they will face off against Washington Freedom.
This partnership extension represents a significant development in the growing relationship between the technology sector and professional cricket in the United States. The continued support from a major tech company like Veeam, combined with the backing of prominent tech industry figures, demonstrates the increasing integration of technology and sports in the Seattle region.
The collaboration also highlights the expanding influence of cricket in the American sports landscape, particularly in tech-heavy regions like the Pacific Northwest. With substantial support from both corporate sponsors and individual tech industry leaders, the Seattle Orcas are positioned to play a pivotal role in growing the sport’s popularity in the United States.
The extension of this sponsorship agreement not only provides financial stability for the Seattle Orcas but also reinforces the team’s connections to the region’s robust technology sector, creating a unique intersection of sports and technology in the Pacific Northwest.
