PeopleSoft. Brocade. and Forte. All of these IT companies got their start with funding from Norwest Venture Partners. Since its inception more than 45 years ago, Norwest has funded more than 400 IT companies in areas ranging from infrastructure to security. Today, the $2.5 billion fund concentrates on early-stage IT companies in areas such as semiconductors and components. enterprise software and service, communications systems and Internet infrastructure.

So what technologies does a VC firm like Norwest find particularly attractive these days? Robert Abbott, general partner at Norwest, says, "CIOs want to buy things that are easy to deploy and to manage over time. To this end, we like managed infrastructure services, such as outsourced security, and enterprise applications based on software as a service. We also like enterprise applications based on an appliance model. With so much emphasis on virtualization, we're looking for things that will take the challenge out of managing all those virtual machines. We still continue to fund things that make it easier to manage all the systems in a data center.

Like many venture capital firms, Norwest values its strong relationships with CIOs and other people in the IT industry. Abbott says, "We're always looking to expand our network of CIOs. We like hearing about the IT problems they're trying to solve. Likewise, we like to show CIOs portfolio companies with solutions that could potentially help them. If any CIO is interested in networking with Norwest Venture Partners, please contact Elizabeth Ferrarini at elizabethferrarini@yahoo.com.

Bio
Since joining Norwest Venture Partners in 1998, Robert Abbott has focused primarily on infrastructure, systems and components. He sits on the board of ClariPhy, KACE, mBlox, Mozes, Occam Networks, Stream Processors and Xilient. He has also worked with such companies as Embark, Escalate (acquired by GERS), mPower (acquired by Morningstar), Quantum Effect Devices (acquired by PMC-Sierra), and Summit Microelectronics.

Abbott has nine years of operational experience in various roles, from engineering to marketing and product management. Before joining Norwest, Abbott was at Silicon Graphics. Prior to Silicon Graphics, he worked at IBM-ROLM Systems. He holds a bachelor of science and a master of science in electrical engineering and an MBA, all from Stanford University.

Resources
Spectator  Business - Brits Go to Silicon Valley

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Elizabeth Ferrarini, Executive  Producer
Tom Parish, Host and Audio  Producer
AlarmMusic.com Production Music  Library for Broadcast, Film, Video & Post Production

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