Cisco Investments backs startups pushing the boundaries of innovation in areas that matter to our customers. Each month, we spotlight how our portfolio companies are advancing the technologies shaping tomorrow’s enterprise.
New Investments
TrustCloud provides innovative solutions for managing and automating trust assurance, helping businesses streamline compliance, security, and risk management processes. By leveraging advanced technology, TrustCloud empowers organizations to build trust with stakeholders and ensure operational integrity. Learn more about our investment into TrustCloud in our blog, “Making Trust Measurable: TrustCloud Gives CISOs the Tools to Lead with Confidence.”
Artificial Intelligence
DataRobot examined the hidden costs associated with scaling agentic AI systems. They highlighted challenges such as escalating API usage, infrastructure sprawl, and orchestration overhead that can silently inflate operational expenses.
Fiddler was selected for the U.S. Department of Defense’s APFIT program to support mission-critical AI initiatives. In collaboration with Domino Data Lab, Weights & Biases, and Latent AI, Fiddler’s observability platform will enhance the Navy’s AI infrastructure by improving model monitoring and explainability.
Scale AI highlighted its commitment to building a safer internet by enhancing AI model evaluations and contributor support. Through its Outlier platform, Scale provides high-quality evaluation and alignment data, helping AI systems recognize and respond appropriately to harmful prompts.
Cloud & Data Center
Dremio outlined its vision for Active Data Architecture, emphasizing a unified, open, and AI-ready approach to data management. By integrating technologies like Apache Iceberg, Git-for-Data, and a universal semantic layer, Dremio aims to simplify data governance and accelerate analytics workflows.
HYCU unveiled R-Shield™, a built-in cyber resilience fabric for its R-Cloud platform, designed to protect and recover data across SaaS, cloud, and on-premises environments. Recognizing the evolving threat landscape, R-Shield addresses vulnerabilities in fragmented infrastructures and unprotected SaaS applications, ensuring comprehensive data protection without blind spots.
Collaboration
Airtop explained a strategic framework for choosing between AI agents and AI automations. They emphasized that automations are ideal for deterministic tasks with predictable outcomes, while agents excel in dynamic environments requiring contextual understanding and adaptability. By combining both approaches, organizations can optimize efficiency and flexibility in their workflows.
Aisera received the Innovator of the Year award at the 2025 AI TechAwards for its AI Agent Platform. This recognition reflects the support of Aisera’s customers and partners, alongside the company’s ongoing commitment to platform innovation.
Theta Lake introduced an embedded compliance platform to help independent software vendors (ISVs) expand into regulated industries. By integrating Theta Lake’s API-based compliance features, ISVs can shorten procurement cycles and eliminate adoption friction, offering products that are market-ready for sectors like financial services, insurance, and healthcare.
Uniphore explored how generative AI is transforming quality assurance in contact centers. The company identified five key challenges—limited call visibility, missed automation opportunities, inconsistent evaluation criteria, difficulty linking QA to business outcomes, and outdated systems—and demonstrated how AI-driven solutions can address these issues.
Whatfix addressed the widening AI skills gap that hampers organizations from realizing returns on generative AI investments. They examine how tailored upskilling programs, skills assessments, and expert-led initiatives equip employees with the AI fluency needed to thrive in evolving workplaces.
Networking
Lightbits detailed its integration with Proxmox VE, offering a high-performance, software-defined storage solution tailored for virtualization environments. By combining Lightbits' NVMe over TCP technology with Proxmox's virtualization capabilities, organizations can achieve enhanced scalability, reduced latency, and improved resource utilization.
Security
AppOmni collaborated with Splunk to deliver a unified solution for enhanced SaaS security. This integration combines AppOmni's SaaS-specific detections and enriched context with Splunk's analytics capabilities, enabling security teams to identify threats, streamline investigations, and maintain compliance more effectively.
Expel celebrated four of its partner champions being named to the 2025 CRN Women of the Channel list. This recognition highlights their leadership, innovation, and dedication to advancing partner success across the cybersecurity ecosystem.
Halcyon introduced Kernel Guard Protection to combat ransomware tactics exploiting vulnerable drivers. This feature detects and blocks the malicious use of signed but vulnerable drivers, a common method attackers use to disable security software.
Island advocated for the use of its Enterprise Browser to help federal agencies accelerate AI adoption while ensuring compliance with new OMB directives. The platform offers granular data controls, audit logging, and safe access to generative AI tools, aligning with M-25-21 and M-25-22 requirements.
RangeForce promoted the use of agile 'digital cousins' over traditional digital twins in cyber range training. Digital twins aim to replicate entire IT environments but are costly and complex to maintain. In contrast, digital cousins offer realistic, cloud-based attack simulations that are easier to deploy and update, enabling teams to train regularly without full-scale replication overhead.
Securiti emphasized the business value of safe enterprise AI adoption in its guide for leaders. The company outlined how AI can drive market differentiation, revenue growth, and operational efficiency when paired with robust governance and security measures.
VISO TRUST introduced Sub-Processor Intelligence to enhance visibility into downstream vendor risks. This feature uncovers hidden privacy vulnerabilities by mapping sub-processors—such as fourth and fifth parties—within vendor ecosystems. By providing insights into these extended relationships, organizations can better assess compliance obligations and mitigate potential data exposure risks.
Looking to connect with a startup or delve deeper into our portfolio of more than 100+ startups, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at work-with-cisco-investments@cisco.com. Our dedicated team is eager to assist you by providing additional information, addressing your specific interests, and ensuring that you have a comprehensive understanding of our portfolio.