CMEA Capital

CMEA Capital was a prominent venture capital firm established in 1989 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. Over its operational history, the firm primarily concentrated on early-stage technology companies across diverse sectors, including information technology, life sciences, and clean energy. CMEA Capital aimed to identify and nurture innovative startups with high growth potential, providing crucial early-stage capital and strategic guidance to help them scale within their respective markets.

The firm successfully raised a substantial amount of capital, totaling over $1.2 billion across eight distinct venture funds. Its final fund, CMEA Ventures VIII, closed in 2007 with a capital commitment of $300 million. Throughout its active investment period, CMEA Capital built a diversified portfolio, achieving notable exits such as Nuance Communications, a leader in speech recognition and AI. The firm's investment strategy often involved leading rounds and providing significant capital infusions to its portfolio companies.

Historically, CMEA Capital's typical initial investment size ranged from approximately $5 million to $10 million, with the potential for follow-on investments as companies progressed. This approach allowed them to take meaningful stakes in promising ventures. However, CMEA Capital is no longer an active investor in new companies. The firm has largely wound down its operations over the past decade, with its last recorded investment occurring in 2011, making it a historical entity in the venture capital landscape rather than a current participant.