Cisco Investments is the investment arm of Cisco Systems, Inc., focused on direct and fund of funds investments primarily in the technology sector. With a strong emphasis on areas such as big data and analytics, the Internet of Things, data centers, software as a service, security, and semiconductor technology, Cisco Investments targets start-ups, early-stage, later-stage, and pre-IPO companies. The firm has a global investment strategy, concentrating on regions including China, Israel, India, and select opportunities in Russia and beyond. In India, it particularly seeks to support growth-stage companies in next-generation technologies related to security, cloud, smart cities, and healthcare. Cisco Investments operates from its headquarters in San Jose, California, with an additional office in Moscow, Russia, and boasts a team of over 40 professionals with deep market and technology expertise. With an active portfolio of approximately $2 billion and involvement in over 80 direct investments, Cisco Investments has a notable history of facilitating successful IPOs and acquisitions for its portfolio companies.
Vice President and Corporate Development and Investments
Past deals in Semiconductor
CNEX Labs
Series D in 2018
CNEX provides revolutionary solid-state storage semiconductor and software solutions for cloud, hyper-scale, and enterprise data centers. The company delivers innovative storage semiconductor and software solutions, partnering with solid-state storage manufacturers, data center and systems customers to develop revolutionary NVMe and Open-Channel SSD controller ASICs that deliver high-performance with low and predictable latency, scalability and flexibility for software-defined-storage. CNEX controller products are key to accelerating the capabilities of big data compute and analytics for the next generation of cloud, hyperscale and enterprise data centers. The customers use CNEX SSD controllers to deliver differentiated SSD solutions for low-power and high-performance in M.2, U.2, U.3, HHHL, EDSFF, and other form-factors. CNEX Labs was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in San Jose, California, United States.
Ambiq Micro
Venture Round in 2018
Ambiq Micro, Inc. specializes in the development of ultra-low power integrated circuits tailored for power-sensitive applications. The company focuses on creating subthreshold power optimized technology, producing real-time clocks and microcontrollers for various uses, including wearables, smart cards, wireless sensors, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices. Founded in 2009 and based in Austin, Texas, Ambiq Micro also maintains offices in San Jose, California, and several locations in China. Its pioneering technology aims to facilitate the creation of next-generation wireless electronics by enabling innovative companies to design products that minimize battery dependency, reduce overall power consumption, and enhance design flexibility. Additionally, Ambiq Micro provides technical support services to its clients, further contributing to its mission of advancing low-power semiconductor solutions.
Nantero
Series G in 2018
Nantero, Inc. is a nanotechnology company based in Woburn, Massachusetts, that specializes in the development of semiconductor products utilizing carbon nanotubes. Founded in 2001, Nantero focuses on creating nonvolatile random access memory (NRAM) chips, which provide high-density, high-speed storage solutions for a variety of applications, including smartphones, tablets, computers, and industrial systems. The company's NRAM technology offers advantages over traditional memory types, such as zero power consumption in standby mode, making it suitable for both standalone and embedded memory applications. In addition to NRAM, Nantero produces nanoelectromechanical switches and other semiconductor products, and collaborates with licensees to expand the use of its nanotube-based technology across various sectors.
Aquantia
Series H in 2015
Aquantia Corp specializes in the design, development, and marketing of high-speed communication integrated circuits for Ethernet connectivity, targeting data center, enterprise infrastructure, and access markets. The company creates solutions that serve as a crucial link between high-speed analog signals and digital information in computing and networking equipment. By focusing on delivering advanced data speeds, Aquantia addresses network bandwidth bottlenecks arising from the rapid increase in Internet Protocol traffic. With a team of experts experienced in technology development and signal processing, Aquantia is well-equipped to innovate in the fast-evolving landscape of Ethernet solutions.
CNEX Labs
Series A in 2014
CNEX provides revolutionary solid-state storage semiconductor and software solutions for cloud, hyper-scale, and enterprise data centers. The company delivers innovative storage semiconductor and software solutions, partnering with solid-state storage manufacturers, data center and systems customers to develop revolutionary NVMe and Open-Channel SSD controller ASICs that deliver high-performance with low and predictable latency, scalability and flexibility for software-defined-storage. CNEX controller products are key to accelerating the capabilities of big data compute and analytics for the next generation of cloud, hyperscale and enterprise data centers. The customers use CNEX SSD controllers to deliver differentiated SSD solutions for low-power and high-performance in M.2, U.2, U.3, HHHL, EDSFF, and other form-factors. CNEX Labs was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in San Jose, California, United States.
Wilocity
Series D in 2013
Wilocity Ltd. develops 60 GHz wireless chipsets for the notebook and peripheral markets. Its wireless solution provides gigabit wireless networking and point-to-point connectivity. The company's gigabit wireless semiconductor solution brings a desktop experience to mobile computers. Wilocity Ltd. was founded in 2007 and is based in Caesarea, Israel.
Alchip
Venture Round in 2010
Alchip Technologies, Limited is a company that specializes in silicon design and manufacturing solutions, particularly for application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) and system-on-chip (SoC) designs. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, Alchip offers a range of services including SoC design, production, intellectual property solutions, and multi-project wafer services. Its products are utilized in various applications such as networking, storage, computing devices, HDTVs, mobile phones, digital cameras, entertainment systems, and medical equipment. The company operates globally, with significant revenue generated from the United States, and maintains a commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable services that meet the complex demands of its clients, ensuring timely production and successful product launches.
Alchip
Series C in 2004
Alchip Technologies, Limited is a company that specializes in silicon design and manufacturing solutions, particularly for application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) and system-on-chip (SoC) designs. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, Alchip offers a range of services including SoC design, production, intellectual property solutions, and multi-project wafer services. Its products are utilized in various applications such as networking, storage, computing devices, HDTVs, mobile phones, digital cameras, entertainment systems, and medical equipment. The company operates globally, with significant revenue generated from the United States, and maintains a commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable services that meet the complex demands of its clients, ensuring timely production and successful product launches.
Quake Technologies
Series C in 2004
Quake Technologies is an innovative, global fabless semiconductor company with an established record of designing, developing and supplying physical layer (PHY) mixed-signal ICs for 10 Gigabit applications for enterprise, data and storage networking markets. Quake's new product development focuses on value-added features and anticipation of market trends while complying with all the necessary standards.
Quake Technologies
Series B in 2001
Quake Technologies is an innovative, global fabless semiconductor company with an established record of designing, developing and supplying physical layer (PHY) mixed-signal ICs for 10 Gigabit applications for enterprise, data and storage networking markets. Quake's new product development focuses on value-added features and anticipation of market trends while complying with all the necessary standards.
Morphics Technology
Series C in 2001
Morphics Technology, Inc. specializes in communications systems, focusing on the development of Wireless Signal Processors (WSPs) and Intellectual Property (IP) Cores for wireless infrastructure and terminal products. The company combines its knowledge in communications theory, digital signal processing, computer architecture, and silicon engineering to provide high-performance signal processing solutions that are both cost-effective and scalable for next-generation wireless networks. Morphics' off-the-shelf WSPs are designed to meet the cost-reduction demands of 3G basestation manufacturers by delivering efficient baseband processing with high channel density. These programmable processors allow equipment vendors to integrate proprietary radio-link and network performance features while supporting various leading 3G wireless standards.
Cogency Semiconductor
Series B in 2000
Cogency Semiconductor specializes in developing semiconductor chips designed for home networking applications. The company focuses on powerline networking and communications technology, enabling consumers to share internet connections and stream digital audio and video seamlessly. By utilizing existing power outlets, Cogency's solutions facilitate the networking of personal computers and various consumer entertainment devices, providing a convenient and efficient way to enhance home connectivity.
Navarro Networks
Venture Round in 2000
Navarro Networks was a developer of Ethernet-based ASIC components based in Plano, Texas, in the United States.
Magma Design Automation
Venture Round in 2000
Magma Design Automation, Inc. (Magma), provides electronic design automation (EDA) software products and related services. Its software enables chip designers to reduce the time it takes to design and produce integrated circuits used in the communications, computing, consumer electronics, networking and semiconductor industries. Its flagship products consist of a digital integrated solution for the chip development cycle, from initial design through physical implementation. Magma's flagship Talus family of products, its Tekton static timing analyzer and QCP extractor and, its Quartz family of sign-off and verification tools combine into one integrated chip design and verification flow, from what has been separate logic design, physical design, and analysis and sign-off processes. Its Titan platform for custom integrated chip design provides an integrated chip-finishing solution for mixed-signal designs.
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