Cerebras backer Adit Singh joins Mayfield to lead infrastructure investments
The former Foundation Capital partner will focus on hardware, cybersecurity, and physical AI, citing Mayfield’s deep semiconductor portfolio and capacity for large seed checks.
Adit Singh has joined the venture capital firm Mayfield as an infrastructure partner, bringing his expertise in hardware and semiconductor technology to the 57-year-old institution. Singh, who previously served as a partner at Foundation Capital, will focus his investment efforts on hardware, infrastructure software, cybersecurity, and physical AI. His appointment marks a significant shift in his career, following his role in co-leading the first funding round for Cerebras when it was an emerging chip startup.
The move is driven in part by the increasing scale of seed-stage infrastructure deals. Singh noted that smaller funds are often priced out of these transactions, whereas Mayfield’s $3 billion in assets under management allows it to write seed checks of up to $20 million. This capacity is critical for backing companies in capital-intensive sectors, a consideration Singh weighed heavily when evaluating his next role.
Singh also highlighted Mayfield’s strong position in the semiconductor space as a primary draw. He described the firm’s portfolio as likely the best in the market, pointing to recent investments in Upscale AI, which was valued at $2 billion, and Lumilens, which recently raised $700 million at a $5.5 billion valuation. For Singh, a chip designer by training with a background in electrical engineering, the ability to evaluate workloads from the application down to the transistor level is a key asset in identifying potential in these complex technologies.
His track record includes a significant win at Foundation Capital, where he helped source and co-lead the initial funding for Cerebras. By the time Cerebras held its initial public offering in May, Foundation Capital held a roughly 7% stake, making it the third-largest shareholder in the company. Cerebras now trades at a valuation of nearly $50 billion, a result Singh attributes to his ability to recognise the company’s potential a decade ago.
Before his tenure at Foundation Capital, Singh co-founded Neotribe Ventures in 2017. After leading that firm for four years, he joined the early-stage investor Cota Capital. His new role at Mayfield represents a return to a larger platform, one that aligns with his long-standing professional relationship with the firm’s leadership.
Mayfield managing partner Navin Chaddha, who has known Singh for 15 years, said it took some time to convince him to join. The two have served on three startup boards together, including those of Upscale AI and the unicorn AI startup Velaura AI. Chaddha noted that while they had been in conversation for a long time, the timing finally aligned for Singh to make the move.
