Oxford spinout Semmle has been acquired by GitHub, a subsidiary of Microsoft, providing exits to investors including Accel that had supplied $31m in funding.

Semmle, a US-based code testing platform spun out of University of Oxford, was acquired by GitHub, the open source software hosting subsidiary of technology group Microsoft, for an undisclosed sum yesterday.
Founded in 2006, Semmle has developed technology that makes code easily searchable, allowing developers and researchers to quickly identify potential security issues in large projects.
Semmle’s core analysis platform, which offers automated code reviews, project tracking and security alerts, is available free of charge for open source software.
GitHub will integrate Semmle’s capabilities into its own offering, but the spinout will also continue to offer its platform as a standalone product.
Accel previously led a $21m series B round for Semmle in August 2018, with participation from Work-Bench. Accel also led an $8m series A round in 2014, with commitments from angel investors who had previously supplied $2m in seed capital in 2011

Thierry Heles

Thierry Heles is the editor of Global University Venturing, host of the Beyond the Breakthrough interview podcast and responsible for the monthly GUV Gazette (sign up here for free).