In 1997, Cheng Wu founded Arrowpoint Communications, where he served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. ArrowPoint provided Web switches and Web network services (WebNS) software that allowed customers to optimize the use of the Web for e-commerce and content delivery. In April 2000, the company went public and sold to Cisco Systems for $5.7 billion in that same year, the second largest purchase by Cisco.
Before ArrowPoint, Mr. Wu founded Arris Networks at Westford, Massachusetts. Arris is startup that developed high-density Internet access products. Arris Networks was sold to Westford's Cascade Communications for more than $145 million in May, 1996. When Cascade Communications acquired Arris, Wu served as Cascade's Vice President for remote access engineering.