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Jerry Fiddler is a distinguished investor and technology visionary, best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Wind River Systems, a pioneering company in embedded software. He is also a respected venture capitalist.
Jerry Fiddler primarily invests in early-stage technology companies, with a focus on enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, the Internet of Things (IoT), deep technology, developer tools, and cybersecurity solutions.
Jerry Fiddler is an active investor and advisor. He previously served as a Venture Partner and Managing Director at Mayfield Fund and continues to engage with the tech ecosystem through various board memberships and advisory roles.
Jerry Fiddler stands as a prominent figure in the technology and venture capital landscape, celebrated for his pioneering work in embedded systems and his strategic investments in transformative technologies. His journey began as the co-founder of Wind River Systems in 1981, a company that revolutionized the embedded software industry with its VxWorks operating system. Under his leadership as CEO, Wind River grew into a global leader, eventually going public and later being acquired by Intel, solidifying its legacy in critical infrastructure and device control.
Following his immense success at Wind River, Fiddler transitioned his expertise to the investment world, becoming a highly respected venture capitalist. He served as a Venture Partner and later a Managing Director at Mayfield Fund, a top-tier venture capital firm. In this role, Jerry Fiddler leveraged his deep operational experience and technical insight to identify and nurture promising startups. His investment philosophy is rooted in a keen understanding of foundational technologies, focusing on companies that are building essential infrastructure for the digital age.
Jerry Fiddler's investment focus areas are broad yet strategic, encompassing enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, the Internet of Things (IoT), and deep technology. He is particularly interested in companies developing developer tools, cybersecurity solutions, and advanced analytics platforms that drive efficiency and innovation across industries. Throughout his career at Mayfield and as an independent investor and advisor, he has been involved with numerous companies that have gone on to achieve significant success, contributing to their growth through strategic guidance and mentorship.
His career background is marked by a unique blend of technical acumen, entrepreneurial spirit, and investment savvy. From leading a groundbreaking software company to guiding the next generation of tech innovators, Fiddler has consistently demonstrated an ability to foresee market trends and back disruptive technologies. While specific individual investments from his extensive portfolio are numerous and often part of larger fund activities, his influence can be seen in the success of many enterprise and infrastructure technology companies that emerged during his active investment periods. Jerry Fiddler continues to be an active advisor and board member, shaping the future of technology through his ongoing contributions to the startup ecosystem.
Jerry Fiddler is the Principal at Zygote Ventures and operates as an active angel investor based in Berkeley, California. He previously co-founded Wind River Systems in 1981, serving as CEO and Chairman while scaling the embedded software company through its 1993 initial public offering and eventual $884 million acquisition by Intel. During his 23-year tenure, he oversaw the development of the VxWorks real-time operating system, which was deployed in critical infrastructure including the Boeing 787 and the Mars Pathfinder space mission. Fiddler later served as Chairman of the biotechnology firm Solazyme during its 2011 IPO and has worked as an entrepreneurship advisor at UC Berkeley. He holds a master's degree in computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His current investment focus centers on providing capital to early-stage deep technology, life sciences, and sustainability startups.