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Cyras Systems
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Year Funded: 1998
Spotting winners quickly and backing them with both financing and resources – that’s the hallmark of great venture capital investing. And it’s the story of El Dorado’s investment in Cyras Systems.
Cyras was introduced to El Dorado by Tech Partner Atam Lalchandani, a 20-year technology industry veteran who knew the Cyras founders from their days at Fiberlane Communications. Fiberlane famously split into three highly successful networking equipment start-ups: Cerent Corp. (acquired by Cisco Systems), Siara Systems (acquired by Redback Networks) and Cyras.
El Dorado was the first VC firm to fund Cyras. “They didn’t fit the typical VC mold,” says Cyras co-founder and Vice President for Marketing Rafat Pirzada. “The first thing that comes to mind about EDV is their integrity.”
In addition to funding, EDV provided Cyras with guidance and assistance at critical junctures. “EDV opened doors at the highest levels for us with customers as well as other investors. When we ran into obstacles, they opened the doors that helped us through,” Pirzada says.
The teamwork between Cyras and EDV paid off handsomely: The company was acquired by Ciena Corp. in 2001 for $2.6 billion. |
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