Hilton, you said "As the pace of market transitions accelerates, Cisco Investments is extending its reach to new frontiers that allows Cisco to gain yet greater perspective on, and to help shape, the disruptions that will define tomorrow’s world."

The $100 million fund for IoE related investment seems logical, and somewhat "routine" for Cisco. Given the evolving marketplace that you describe, perhaps now would be a good time to also evolve the Investment Methodology as well.

My point: instead of just providing seed funding (money), consider providing the wisdom and experience of Cisco talent (uniquely skilled employees) to these start-ups. In my opinion, Cisco talent is an asset that's being underutilized in this traditional angel/VC scenario.

Why not create a value-added program that combines both Cisco funds and appropriately skilled employees to the start-ups that the company chooses to fund? Mr. Chambers has said repeatedly that Cisco employees (~65k people) are the company's greatest asset, so here's an opportunity to tap your number one resource.

How do you find the best-fit talent? Last year Cisco asked all employees to update their skills and experience in the company HR database, so you already have an easy way to search for and match the current talent needs of start-ups (demand) with the Cisco employee talent pool (supply).

Therefore, I challenge Cisco to think beyond merely attempting to replicate a legacy angel/VC funding model for new IoE related business opportunities, by creating something more imaginative -- fully utilizing a huge asset that most angel investors and VCs can't offer.

This is your big chance to try something innovative, and re-imagine how Cisco can leverage ALL it's assets to reap the raw potential of the Internet of Everything upside opportunity.

Be bold, by being differentiated in your approach. That's what people expect from Cisco. Myself included.