Eridu, an AI networking startup co-founded by Drew Perkins, has emerged from stealth mode, announcing a successful $200 million Series A funding round. This round, which was oversubscribed, was led by Socratic Partners and notable investors including VC John Doerr and Matter Venture Partners. With this latest investment, the total capital raised by Eridu now stands at $230 million.
Perkins, a veteran in the computer networking sector, previously co-founded companies like Lightera Networks and Infinera, the latter of which went public and was later acquired by Nokia for $2.3 billion. His recent venture, Eridu, aims to revolutionize networking technology by developing new AI-oriented chips that enhance communication within systems. The inspiration for this innovation came after a conversation with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, highlighting the need for improved methods of chip communication.
Founded in 2024, Eridu plans to offer complete systems designed for AI data centers, moving away from traditional networking infrastructure. By 2023, Perkins partnered with Omar Hassen, who has extensive experience in networking chip design, to initiate this new approach to computer networking.