Krux
March 11, 2026
Stealth Startup Eridu Raises $200M Series A for AI Networking
Published: March 11, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Updated: March 11, 2026 at 12:30 AM
100-word summary
Eridu emerged from stealth with an oversubscribed $200 million Series A to build custom networking switches for AI data centers. The round was led by Socratic Partners, legendary investor John Doerr, and Matter Venture Partners, with hedge fund Hudson River Trading joining in. The company is designing both silicon and switches from scratch specifically for AI workloads, rather than adapting existing networking gear. Founder Drew Perkins previously led multiple networking ventures and is targeting hyperscalers first before expanding to enterprise customers through channel partners. The funding telegraphs a bigger bet: that AI data centers need fundamentally different networking architecture, not just faster versions of what already exists.
What happened
Eridu emerged from stealth with an oversubscribed $200 million Series A to build custom networking switches for AI data centers. The round was led by Socratic Partners, legendary investor John Doerr, and Matter Venture Partners, with hedge fund Hudson River Trading joining in. The company is designing both silicon and switches from scratch specifically for AI workloads, rather than adapting existing networking gear. Founder Drew Perkins previously led multiple networking ventures and is targeting hyperscalers first before expanding to enterprise customers through channel partners.
Why it matters
The funding telegraphs a bigger bet: that AI data centers need fundamentally different networking architecture, not just faster versions of what already exists.