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Networking - Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Calix Networks - Profile

HQ: Petaluma, CA

Founded: 1999

Management: President & CEO Carl Russo joined up in 2003. He has the standard 20 years experience in the sector and most recently was group vice president of optical networking for Cisco Systems. In 1999, the company he was CEO of - Cerent - was acquired by Cisco for $7B.

CEO Russo is a Telecom Equipment Lord, But Has A Bad Mustache

Investors: In February 2003, the company raised $50M for a total haul to date of $260M. Venture funders include Azure Capital Partners, Integral Capital Partners, MSD Capital, Redpoint Ventures, Kinetic Ventures, Telesoft Partners, and Meritech Capital Partners.

Business Model: Broadly, it sells telco platforms that improve voice, data, and video service delivery economics for wireline carriers, or the broadband loop carrier category. More specifically, the company's platform includes Ethernet MSPPs, DSLAMs, and 3G DLCs sold to telecom carriers. Revenues for 2004 are purported to be around $100M.

Competitors: Advanced Fibre Communications, Cisco Systems,

Dirt: Calix has been able to capture huge market share leads in important growth categories. In an industry of stiffs, we love it that Calix sought and received a patent for a cup holder that sits inside its cabinets. Calix had a scare in 2001,when Peter Morch, a senior R&D guy at Cisco was accused of stealing IP to use at Calix, but the company has survived.