Azure Capital

Paul Ferris is a founding General Partner with Azure Capital Partners and has over 18 years experience working with high growth technology companies, with the past 10 years investing directly in communications and digital media related companies for Azure.   During his career Paul has helped drive over 30 successful venture backed outcomes, both as an advisor and investor.  Over the course of his career, Paul has provided strategic and investment advice to numerous leading communications infrastructure companies. Notable firms include ADC Telecommunications, Broadcom, Calix, Cerent (acquired by Cisco Systems), Com21, Cyan Optics, Efficient Networks (acquired by Siemens), Lucent Technologies, Next Level Communications, New Focus, Nortel Networks, Packet Engines (acquired by Alcatel), Phone.com, Siara Systems (acquired by Redback Networks), Siemens and Xros (acquired by Nortel Networks).   Prior to founding Azure in 2000, Paul worked at several investment banks, including Credit Suisse First Boston, where he was the Global Head of the Communications Investment Banking Group, and at Deutsche Bank Securities and Morgan Stanley, where he focused on communications infrastructure and hardware companies.  Paul received his B.A. degrees in Computer Science and English from Amherst College, where he graduated summa cum laude.

Paul’s current active board memberships include Calix Networks (NYSE: CALX), Cyan Optics, and Phanfare, and he is a board observer at Medsphere.  Other prior representative early stage investments include Innovance Networks and World Wide Packets (acquired by Ciena).  Prior to Azure successful investments include Com21 (IPO in 1998) and Phone.com (IPO in 1999).