Chris Rust

Chris joined USVP as a Managing Member in 2004. He focuses on early stage investments primarily in the IT sector. Prior to USVP, Chris held the position of CEO of Mahi Networks (2001-2004); Partner at Sequoia Capital (1998-2002); Senior Director of PLM at Carrier Access Corporation (1997, CACS); Director of Marketing of Comcore (1996, acq by National); Principal Network Architect and founding member of Time Warner Roadrunner (1995-1996, on loan from US WEST); Broadband Network Architect US WEST (1992-1996); and Member of Technical Staff at MITRE (1988-1992). He started working as an electrical engineer designing microwave FDM radio equipment for Nokia in Helsinki Finland (1987). Chris is currently a Director of Akros Silicon (Power-over-Ethernet ICs), Dilithium Networks (transcoding gateways), StrataLight (40G optical transport), Veriwave (WLAN test gear), and Zannel (stealth). He also serves on the VC Advisory Board for the Fabless Semiconductor Association (FSA), and is a member of the communications and networking societies of the IEEE. Previously Chris was a Founding Director or active early stage investor in Abrizio (acq by PMCS), Afara WebSystems (acq by SUN), Avanex (AVNX), Commerce5 (acq by DRIV), LVL7 Systems (acq by BRCM), Mahi Networks (acq by Meriton), Mellanox (MLNX), MEMX (out-of-business), Nexsi (acq by JNPR), SwitchOn Networks (acq by PMCS), Santur (private), Telera (acq by ALA), Turin Networks (private), and VxTel (acq by INTC). He has been a Director of the Telecommuncations Industry Association (TIA), was a founding member of the Cable Labs MCNS DOCSIS cable modem standards body, and has been a contributor to the ADSL and ATM forums. Chris earned a BSEE (87) and MSEE (89) from the University of Lowell, an MS Telecommunications Engineering (92) from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an MS Engineering Management (04) from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Chris taught graduate classes in computer networking and communications theory as an