Shashi Srikantan

Shashi Srikantan is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the financial and entrepreneurial sectors, dedicating his career to supporting underrepresented founders and innovators.

As the Managing Director and Head of Ventures at Hearst Level Up, Shashi leads investments in early-stage, tech-enabled startups founded by individuals from diverse backgrounds, focusing on bridging the funding gap and fostering opportunities for Black, Latino, and Women entrepreneurs.

His responsibilities include managing the entire investment process from sourcing and evaluation to post-investment support, working closely with Hearst executives, business units, and external partners to offer strategic guidance, mentorship, and leveraging Hearst's global media and information assets.

Shashi actively engages with a wide network of founders, investors, and organizations to promote an inclusive and diverse innovation ecosystem, drawing on his extensive expertise and passion for driving societal change.

With an educational background that includes an MBA from Columbia Business School and a B.S. in Business Administration and Finance from Villanova University, Shashi Srikantan combines academic excellence with a wealth of practical experience in finance and operations.

Throughout his career, Shashi has been associated with esteemed organizations such as Global Women in VC, Level Up Ventures, HearstLab, Columbia Venture Community, and various corporate entities like Fitch Ratings, BNP Paribas, and Credit Suisse, where he honed his skills and contributed significantly to the finance and entrepreneurial landscape.