Rishi Sharma

Rishi Sharma is the West Coast Lead at Newlin Ventures, based in Santa Monica, California. He has over 16 years of experience in the startup and venture capital space, focusing on early-stage investments across various sectors, including food, insurance, IoT, and consumer markets. In his role, he is responsible for sourcing, evaluating, and executing investment opportunities while providing strategic guidance to portfolio companies.123

Background and Education

Sharma holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, with concentrations in finance, technology management, and global management. He also has a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine, and has completed certifications in IoT product management from Stanford University and venture capital from GoingVC.13

Professional Experience

Before joining Newlin Ventures, Rishi Sharma has held various leadership positions in different companies, where he leveraged his expertise in startup operations and fundraising. He is known for his ability to identify growth opportunities and provide valuable insights to entrepreneurs.34 Additionally, he has participated in initiatives aimed at empowering the next generation of leaders through mentorship and access to capital.12

Skills and Interests

Sharma's skill set includes fundraising, scaling startups, go-to-market strategies, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and marketing strategy. He is particularly passionate about supporting entrepreneurs who are solving real-world problems with innovative solutions.23 His unique perspective is influenced by his experience as a dyslexic thinker, which he believes enhances his problem-solving capabilities.1

In summary, Rishi Sharma is a seasoned venture capitalist committed to fostering innovation and growth within the startup ecosystem through his role at Newlin Ventures.