Welcoming Joe Sullivan to Costanoa

My conversations with Joe Sullivan often start with cybersecurity, but they almost never stay there.

Anyone who has spent time in cyber knows Joe as one of the industry’s defining leaders. He served as Chief Security Officer at Meta, Uber, and Cloudflare, helping build and lead each company’s security organization from a handful of people to teams of hundreds, after beginning his career as one of the first federal prosecutors at the Department of Justice focused on cybercrime. His experience in cybersecurity and perspective on what is coming next is unmatched.

But what makes Joe special isn’t just his depth in cybersecurity, it’s the breadth of his judgment. Joe has a rare ability to see around corners because he’s spent decades making consequential decisions under pressure. He can cover cyber cold, but he’s equally comfortable talking about organizational design, product strategy, company building, board dynamics, recruiting exceptional leaders, or what separates enduring companies from those that tap out. The breadth of his perspective is remarkable, and every conversation I have with him leaves me with a new way of thinking about a problem some company in our portfolio is working through.

I couldn’t be more excited to announce that Joe is joining Costanoa as a Venture Partner.

For years, Joe has been one of our most trusted advisors. He’s worked closely with several of our portfolio companies and has generously shared his perspective with our founders whenever we’ve asked. Over the past six months, we’ve had the opportunity to formalize that relationship, and I’m thrilled to make it official.

In this role, Joe will work closely with our cybersecurity founders, help evaluate new investments, and continue to be a trusted sounding board for the entrepreneurs we back.

This is an especially exciting time in both cybersecurity and national security, two domains where Joe brings a unique perspective. AI is reshaping both how software is built and how it’s attacked. Technology alone won’t separate the winners over the next decade. The edge will come from judgment: on what to build, who to hire, and how to make  the right decisions when the path isn’t obvious. That’s where Joe has always been exceptional.

In addition to being an incredible advisor, anyone who knows Joe knows he’s an incredible human being. Through Ukraine Friends, the nonprofit he leads supporting children in Ukraine, and through years of public service, including serving on President Obama’s Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, he has consistently invested his time where he believes it can make the biggest difference.

Welcome to the team, Joe.