Ashwin Cheriyan

Ashwin Cheriyan is a prominent entrepreneur and angel investor based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is currently the CEO and Co-Founder of Thistle, a company specializing in delivering ready-to-eat, plant-forward meals, snacks, and juices. Under his leadership, Thistle has positioned itself as a tech-enabled organic food and nutrition provider since its founding in 2013.13

In addition to his role at Thistle, Ashwin has been an angel investor since 2015, focusing on seed and Series A investments in innovative companies led by passionate entrepreneurs. His investment strategy emphasizes supporting businesses that aim to create a positive impact on society and the environment.23

Educational Background and Early Career

Ashwin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Brown University and a J.D. with Honors from The University of Texas School of Law. Before venturing into entrepreneurship, he worked as an M&A associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, where he was involved in significant transactions exceeding $100 billion. He also co-founded WeGoFair, a platform that rates hotels and restaurants based on their social and environmental performance, further showcasing his commitment to sustainability.123

Personal Interests

Outside of his professional pursuits, Ashwin describes himself as a "recovering corporate lawyer" and enjoys surfing, indicating a balance between his intense career focus and personal leisure activities.3