Cisco Investments
UnclaimedAt a Glance
- Check Size
- $2M – $50M
- Stage
- Series A, Series B+
- AUM
- $2B
- Sectors
- Enterprise, Cybersecurity, AI +1
- Founded
- 1993
- HQ
- San Jose, CA
About Cisco Investments
Cisco Investments is the strategic venture arm of Cisco Systems, established in 1993 to identify and invest in innovative technology companies that complement Cisco's core networking and infrastructure business. With over $2 billion in assets under management, the firm has made more than 400 investments and achieved over 100 successful exits. Led by senior investment professionals, Cisco Investments focuses on early to growth-stage companies in networking, security, collaboration, cloud computing, IoT, and AI. The firm provides both financial capital and strategic value through access to Cisco's global customer base, distribution channels, and technical expertise.
Notable investments include AppDynamics (acquired for $3.7B), Duo Security (acquired for $2.35B), and Jasper (acquired for $1.4B). Cisco Investments differentiates itself by offering portfolio companies unique go-to-market opportunities and the potential for strategic partnerships or acquisitions, making it a preferred investor for enterprise technology startups.
Investment Thesis
“Investing in companies that are transforming how we work, live, play and learn through secure, intelligent platform technologies.”
Leadership Team
Derek Idemoto is senior vice president of Cisco Investments and corporate development, which places the venture program and mergers and acquisitions under a single executive. That is the practical reason a Cisco check is often read by management teams as a possible acquisition path rather than a purely financial investment. Idemoto was named to Global Corporate Venturing's Powerlist in 2025.
Janey Hoe is vice president of Cisco Investments and leads investment activity, and Prasad Parthasarathi sits in the leadership group. Roughly forty investment and operating professionals work across five countries, sitting alongside Cisco's business units, which is how portfolio companies reach Cisco customer and channel conversations. The team is staffed for strategic diligence, with investors organised around Cisco product areas rather than purely by stage.
Firm Type
Sector Focus
Investment Stage
Notable Portfolio Companies
Fund History
- Cisco Investments has operated since 1993 as the corporate venture arm of Cisco Systems, making it one of the longest-running corporate venture programs in technology.
- It does not raise discrete limited partner funds.
- It invests off Cisco's balance sheet on an evergreen basis, which removes fund-life exit pressure and lets it hold positions until a strategic outcome makes sense.
- The program carries more than $2 billion in assets under management and deploys roughly $200 million a year.
- Cumulatively it has made more than 400 direct investments and recorded over 100 exits.
- It currently holds more than 120 active direct positions plus limited partner stakes in over 40 venture funds, a fund-of-funds layer that functions as a sourcing network into deals the direct team would not otherwise see.
- Investment coverage maps to Cisco's business areas: cloud, collaboration, data centre and enterprise networking, mass-scale infrastructure, internet of things, security, and emerging technologies and incubation.
Related Articles (1)
Frequently Asked Questions
What stage does Cisco Investments invest at?
Cisco Investments primarily invests at the Series A, Series B+ stages. This means they focus on companies that are scaling their go-to-market after proving product-market fit.
Where is Cisco Investments located?
Cisco Investments is headquartered in San Jose, CA. Many of their portfolio companies are also based in this region, though they invest across geographies.
What sectors does Cisco Investments focus on?
Cisco Investments focuses on investments in Enterprise, Cybersecurity, AI, SaaS. Their portfolio reflects deep expertise and networks within these sectors.
What is Cisco Investments's typical check size?
Cisco Investments's typical investment check size ranges from $2M to $50M. Actual amounts may vary based on the stage, sector, and specific opportunity.
How much does Cisco Investments have under management?
Cisco Investments manages approximately $2B in assets under management (AUM) across their funds.
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