David Ulevitch

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David Ulevitch – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

David Ulevitch (born Dec 1981) is an American entrepreneur and venture capitalist. Explore his journey founding OpenDNS & EveryDNS, his investing role, and insights.

Introduction

David Ulevitch is an American entrepreneur, technologist, and venture capitalist best known for founding OpenDNS and EveryDNS, and later joining Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) as a General Partner. With a career spanning DNS infrastructure, cybersecurity, and enterprise software, Ulevitch has combined deep technical roots with strategic vision. His work has had major influence in internet security and in shaping the next generation of technology companies.

Though he was born in December 1981, Ulevitch rose early: founding companies while still a college student and later scaling them to multi-hundred-million-dollar exits. His story offers lessons in building infrastructure, navigating acquisitions, and transitioning from founder to investor.

Early Life and Education

David A. Ulevitch was born in December 1981 (some sources list December 10) in the United States.

He grew up in Del Mar, California, near San Diego, where he developed an interest in networks and internet infrastructure at a young age.

While still in junior high, Ulevitch began working for ElectriCiti, a local Internet service provider (ISP). This early exposure gave him hands-on experience in network operations, systems, and internet traffic management.

For his higher education, Ulevitch attended Washington University in St. Louis, where he earned a BA in Anthropology.

Career and Achievements

Early Ventures: EveryDNS

In May 2001, while still a student at Washington University, Ulevitch founded EveryDNS. It began as a personal project to meet his need for web-based DNS management, but rapidly grew into a widely used service.

EveryDNS allowed users to manage domain name settings more flexibly and simply. Over time, it attracted a large user base (nearly 100,000 users at one point).

In 2010, EveryDNS was acquired by Dyn, Inc. (later part of Oracle).

Founding OpenDNS

In July 2006, Ulevitch launched OpenDNS. This was a recursive DNS service focused on performance, reliability, and security.

OpenDNS leveraged insights from DNS traffic to detect threats (malware, phishing, etc.), and offered a cloud-based security layer.

By harnessing large volumes of DNS data, OpenDNS inserted a security/monitoring layer at a network infrastructure level.

On June 30, 2015, Cisco formally acquired OpenDNS in a deal valued at about US$ 635 million.

Role at Cisco

After the acquisition, Ulevitch joined Cisco, eventually becoming Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cisco’s Security Business. In that position, he oversaw the global cybersecurity strategy, product portfolios, and security operations for a business unit generating billions in revenue.

He led the integration of OpenDNS offerings into Cisco’s security stack, and managed security product lines at scale.

Transition to Venture Investing

In October 2018, Ulevitch joined Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) as a General Partner.

At a16z, he leads investments in American Dynamism, enterprise software, SaaS, national security, cybersecurity, and more.

He has backed companies including Anduril, AnyRoad, CX2, Flock Safety, Skydio, Superhuman, Wingspan, and more.

He also sits on boards of portfolio companies and contributes thought leadership on infrastructure, security, and enterprise ecosystems.

Historical & Industry Context

• Ulevitch’s career unfolded during the expansion of cloud computing, security-as-a-service, and infrastructure innovation.

• His move to DNS-based security anticipated the shift toward network-level, “cloud-native” security models rather than appliance-based perimeter defenses.

• The OpenDNS acquisition by Cisco is emblematic of how large incumbents acquire nimble innovators to bolster security portfolios.

• His transition from operator/founder to investor mirrors a broader tech trajectory—shifting from execution to enabling other founders.

• His anthropological background reflects a trend in tech: the blending of technical and human insight for product design.

Legacy and Influence

• Ulevitch is considered a pioneer in DNS infrastructure + security, showing how foundational layers of the Internet can be monetized and enhanced.

• The OpenDNS model influenced subsequent cloud security platforms and DNS-based defense services.

• As a VC, he is helping shape the next generation of enterprise, defense, and infrastructure startups.

• He represents a path from builder to investor, bridging technology creation with capital deployment.

Personality & Traits

From interviews, profiles, and commentary:

• Analytical & systems-minded: He often speaks in infrastructure, network, and data terms.

• User- and behavior-aware: His anthropology background gives him sensitivity to how people use systems.

• Execution-oriented: He emphasizes the importance of execution over pure ideas.

• Long-term thinking: He invests in foundational technologies and infrastructure, not only flashy consumer plays.

• Mission-conscious: His involvement in “American Dynamism” suggests he thinks about national scale technology and sovereignty.

Famous Quotes of David Ulevitch

While not as widely quoted as public figures or writers, Ulevitch has shared many memorable insights in interviews, blog posts, and talks. Some include:

• “DNS is kind of the hamster under the hood that drives the Internet.”

• “There are lots of great ideas. What sets great companies apart is their ability to execute.”

• “Maybe it’s whiner’s fatigue, but I’m getting tired of hearing about how hard it is to start a company and be a CEO. It’s not that hard.”

• “I often joke that [my anthropology degree] has turned out to be way more useful than I expected. Studying human behavior, different cultures … has given me a broad worldview.”

These reflect his view that success lies not just in invention but in disciplined follow-through, and that technology always interacts with human systems.

Lessons from David Ulevitch

From Ulevitch’s path, several lessons stand out:

1. Start small, focus on solving a real problem — EveryDNS began as a personal tool to manage DNS.

2. Leverage infrastructure layers — He built value at a low level (DNS) which scales broadly.

3. Pivot and evolve — From DNS to security, from founder to executive to investor.

4. Data is insight — Using DNS traffic to derive threat intelligence was central to OpenDNS’s value.

5. Invest in the long game — Infrastructure, trust, and platform effects compound over time.

6. Blend technical + human insight — His anthropological background reminds us tools must serve people.

7. Transition with humility — Moving from creator to enabler is a major shift and demands different skills.

Conclusion

David Ulevitch’s journey — from tinkering with DNS as a student, founding EveryDNS and OpenDNS, to leading Cisco’s security division and now backing startups at a16z — demonstrates a rare arc in tech: builder, operator, acquirer, and investor. His work underscores the power of foundational infrastructure in technology, and his insights continue to shape how we build secure, scalable systems.

If you’d like, I can also build a timeline of his major milestones, or compare his investing style with other infrastructure-oriented VCs. Do you want me to do that?