Venture capital firm Costanoa has expanded its leadership network by appointing veteran cybersecurity executive Joe Sullivan as a Venture Partner.
The San Francisco-based investment firm said Sullivan will serve in a part-time advisory capacity, supporting both its investment strategy and the continued growth of its cybersecurity portfolio.
The appointment reflects Costanoa’s continued emphasis on identifying and backing high-growth companies operating in critical technology sectors, particularly cybersecurity.
Advisory Role Focused on Investments and Portfolio Growth
In his new position, Sullivan will work closely with Costanoa’s investment team to identify promising startups, assess new investment opportunities, and provide strategic guidance to companies already within the firm’s cybersecurity portfolio.
The role also formalizes a relationship that has developed over time, as Sullivan has maintained longstanding connections with both Costanoa’s partners and many of the founders the firm has supported.
Extensive Career Across Security and Technology
Sullivan brings more than 30 years of experience spanning cybersecurity, technology leadership, law enforcement, and national security.
Throughout his career, he has served as Chief Security Officer at Meta, Uber, and Cloudflare, where he established and expanded security organizations responsible for protecting some of the world’s largest technology platforms.
His experience also includes advising numerous cybersecurity and artificial intelligence startups, providing strategic guidance to founders navigating rapidly evolving technology markets.
In addition, Sullivan serves on the board of StackHawk, a company focused on enabling secure AI-powered software development.
Public Service and Humanitarian Leadership
Beyond the private sector, Sullivan has held several influential public service roles.
He previously served on former President Barack Obama’s Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity and was also a commissioner with the National Cybersecurity Alliance, contributing to national efforts aimed at improving cyber resilience.
His current work extends into humanitarian initiatives as well. Sullivan is the Chief Executive Officer of Ukraine Friends, a nonprofit organization dedicated to delivering humanitarian assistance to children affected by the war in Ukraine.
Earlier in his career, he worked as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice, where he handled cases involving cybercrime, computer hacking, and economic espionage.
Appointment Builds on Existing Relationship
According to Costanoa, Sullivan’s new position is a natural continuation of the collaboration he has already maintained with the firm’s leadership and portfolio companies.
His experience advising founders and building enterprise security organizations is expected to strengthen Costanoa’s ability to evaluate emerging cybersecurity technologies while helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses.
Costanoa Continues to Expand Technology Investments
Founded and led by Greg Sands, Founder and Managing Partner, Costanoa focuses its investments on companies developing technologies across Applied AI, AI Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, National Security, and Fintech.
The venture capital firm currently manages approximately $2.8 billion in assets under management (AUM), positioning it among the established investors supporting next-generation enterprise technology companies.
