Riverhead Networks developed technology for service providers and data centers to protect their networks and their customers' networks from Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. These occur when multiple systems are used to target a single system, causing a Denial of Service (DoS) attack, which is when a network stops working because it is being flooded with useless traffic. Riverhead's hardware and software ensured that any assaults on a system would not disable it.

 

Exit: Riverhead was acquired by Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) in March 2004. Riverhead represented a classic example of Gemini's investment strategy: to help finance a start-up at the seed stage, recruit a CEO and then bring the company to maturity by participating in the subsequent rounds of financing along with top-tier investors such as Sequoia, Intel and Cisco.