Ciena

Ciena

Ciena (Nasdaq: CIEN) was founded in 1994 to develop and supply fiber optic telecommunication products and systems to inter-exchange carriers, telephone operation companies and other communication service providers.

STAR took an early investor role in the company's Series B (12/94) and Series C (12/95) financing rounds together with top-tier US VCs Sevin Rosen Funds and Charles River Ventures.

Ciena went public in February 1997 at a record valuation of US $2.1Billion and raised US $125M through its IPO on Nasdaq. This was the highest valuation ever achieved by a venture-backed company to date.

STAR invested US $3.2M in total and realized proceeds of US $264M (multiple of 82.5, IRR of 569% p.a.).