Anu Hariharan

Anu Hariharan is a prominent figure in venture capital, currently serving as the Founder and Managing Partner of Avra, a venture fund aimed at empowering growth-stage founders. She was previously a co-founder and Managing Director at Y Combinator's Continuity Fund, where she played a crucial role in leading investments in notable companies such as Brex, Faire, Gusto, and Whatnot.124

Education and Early Career

Anu holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communication from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka, India, and furthered her education with a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech, followed by an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.34 She began her career as a senior software engineer at Qualcomm before transitioning into venture capital.

Professional Experience

Before her tenure at Y Combinator, Anu was a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, where she focused on consumer internet growth investments and collaborated with management teams of companies like Airbnb and Instacart. Additionally, she worked as a Principal at The Boston Consulting Group, specializing in private equity.256

Contributions and Impact

During her time at Y Combinator, Anu was instrumental in scaling the growth fund, which invests in top-performing startups from the accelerator. She has been recognized for her contributions to the tech ecosystem, particularly in fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurs across the US, China, and India.356

Anu is also actively involved in various boards, including Brex, Faire, and Monzo Bank, demonstrating her commitment to guiding and supporting emerging companies.7