Abstract

Cliff Higgerson has more than 35 years of experience in research, consulting, planning, and venture investing. Combining the market insight of an analyst with a keen ability to identify blockbuster technologies early in their development, Cliff has backed some of the most successful companies in the communications industry. He focuses his investments on telecommunications with an emphasis on carrier systems and equipment.Recent investments and board seats include Astute Networks, Hatteras Networks, Kotura, Lambda OpticalSystems, Ygnition, and Xtera Communications. Prior investments and board seats include such industry leaders as Advanced Fibre Communications (Nasdaq: AFCI); America Online; Ciena (Nasdaq: CIEN); Digital Island (acquired by Cable & Wireless); Digital Microwave, now Stratex Networks (Nasdaq: STXN); Tellabs (Nasdaq: TLAB); MCI (Nasdaq: MCIP); Octel (NYSE:OTL); and Tut Systems (Nasdaq: TUTS).Cliff was a founding partner of ComVentures and a general partner with Vanguard Venture Partners. He has also served as a managing partner and Director of Research for Hambrecht & Quist, and as a special limited partner and Director of the Communications Group for L.F. Rothschild, Unterberg, Towbin.Cliff holds an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley, and a BS from the University of Illinois.

© 2006 Optical Society of America