Sanat Rao

Sanat Rao is a seasoned professional with a diverse background spanning across venture capital, investing, M&A, and corporate development. Currently, he serves as a General Partner at BlockTower Capital, overseeing the market-neutral crypto fund and engaging in early-stage crypto investments.

Prior to his role at BlockTower Capital, Sanat co-founded Gamma Point Capital, a prominent market neutral hedge fund later acquired by BlockTower Capital, where he played a key role in investment decisions and strategic direction. His investment portfolio includes advising and investing in various sectors like crypto exchanges, prime brokerage platforms, DeFi projects, and blockchain-based real-world asset platforms.

Before his venture at BlockTower Capital, Sanat was a Partner at IDG Ventures, a renowned venture capital firm, where he spearheaded investments in AI, fintech, e-commerce, SaaS, and enterprise software. His experience in the venture capital space encompasses all aspects from fundraising to successful exits.

Beginning his career at Intel Capital, a leading corporate venture capital firm, Sanat transitioned from chip design engineering to venture capital and M&A roles. During his tenure, he co-founded iSPIRT and facilitated M&A transactions in the Indo-US corridor, showcasing his expertise in deal sourcing, due diligence, and post-merger integration.

Sanat's professional journey also includes leading Intel's embedded & ADAS business in emerging markets, contributing significantly to building Intel's $100M business in these regions. His academic qualifications include BS & MS degrees in Computer Engineering, an MBA degree, and a guest lecturer position at the Duke Fuqua School of Business, specializing in venture capital & private equity.

Throughout his career, Sanat has invested over $100M in 30 companies globally, executed 12 M&A transactions valued at $1.5B collectively, and played a pivotal role in Intel's business expansion in Emerging Markets.

Organizations where Sanat has held notable positions include Shaizen Ventures, Jar, IDG Ventures India, Microsoft Ventures, and Intel Corporation across various departments like Corporate Development, Investment Banking, and M&A.