Drew Perkins, a veteran in computer network technology and startup creation since the internet’s early days, is now leading AI networking startup Eridu as co-founder and CEO. Eridu has emerged from stealth with a $200 million Series A round led by Socratic Partners, John Doerr, Matter Venture Partners, and others, bringing its total raised to $230 million. Perkins, known for helping develop the Point-to-Point Protocol and successfully selling past ventures like Lightera Networks and Infinera, found inspiration from OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Realizing the need for innovative networking methods for AI, Perkins and co-founder Omar Hassen, experienced in networking chip design, established Eridu. Their goal is to revolutionize computer networking with AI-driven chips and systems, reducing reliance on traditional network gear. The startup’s switch design aims to enhance efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness by integrating more functions on the chip. Perkins’ established connections with investors led to a swift and oversubscribed funding round, signaling strong interest and confidence. If Eridu fulfills its vision, it may transform AI data centers, backed by its founders’ extensive expertise and strategic investments from entities including Hudson River Trading, Capricorn Investment Group, and others.
AI Network Startup Eridu Debuts with $200M Series A
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