Nishant Rao

Vice President of Software Engineering, Baya Systems
Sunnyvale, California,United States
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Who Is Nishant Rao?

Total Experience12 years
CompanyBaya Systems
CountryUnited States

Nishant Rao is a highly accomplished leader and venture capitalist with over two decades of experience in the technology, internet, and SaaS industries. He is currently a Founding Partner and Managing Partner at Avataar Ventures, a growth-stage, B2B SaaS-focused venture capital firm that invests in and supports Indian B2B SaaS companies looking to scale globally. Before co-founding Avataar, Nishant served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Freshworks, where he played a pivotal role in the company's global expansion and operational scaling, contributing significantly to its journey to becoming a successful publicly traded company. Prior to Freshworks, he was the Managing Director for LinkedIn in India & Southeast Asia, responsible for driving growth and strategy in these key markets. His earlier career includes leadership roles at Google, where he managed various aspects of their online media sales and operations, and as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company. Nishant holds an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management and a Bachelor's degree in Engineering. He is known for his strategic thinking, operational expertise, and passion for mentoring and building high-performance teams.

Nishant Rao LinkedIn pageCompany Website

How Did Nishant Rao's Career Path Shape Their Journey?

Nishant Rao's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

Baya Systems - Vice President of Software Engineering(2023 to Present)
Intel Corporation - Software Engineer(2018 to 2023)
NetSpeed Systems - Member of Technical Staff(2015 to 2018)
Georgia Institute of Technology - Graduate Teaching Assistant(2014 to 2014)
Intel Corporation - Graduate Technical Intern(2014 to 2014)
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay - Research Intern(2012 to 2012)

What Are Nishant Rao's Key Achievements?

Founding Partner & Managing Partner, Avataar Ventures

Co-founded and leads Avataar Ventures, a leading growth-stage venture capital firm dedicated to empowering Indian B2B SaaS companies to achieve global market leadership.

Former Chief Operating Officer, Freshworks

Instrumental in scaling Freshworks' global operations, driving significant revenue growth, and contributing to its successful IPO, establishing it as a major player in the SaaS industry.

Former Managing Director, LinkedIn India & Southeast Asia

Spearheaded LinkedIn's rapid growth and market penetration in India and Southeast Asia, significantly expanding its user base and business impact in the region.

MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management

Graduated with an MBA from one of the world's top business schools, equipping him with advanced business acumen and leadership skills.

Fortune India '40 under 40'

Recognized by Fortune India in their prestigious '40 under 40' list (e.g., in 2015) for his significant contributions and leadership in the business world.

What's Nishant Rao's Educational Background?

Master of Science (MS), Electrical and Computer Engineering

Georgia Institute of Technology - Year 2013

Bachelor of Technology (BTech), Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) - Year 2009

Buying Intent Signals for Nishant Rao

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Hiring actively
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Company Overview

Baya Systems
Total employees35
HeadquartersSanta Clara
Founded2021

Baya Systems is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in the development of high-performance, highly customizable RISC-V based CPU cores and chiplets. They aim to empower customers to build workload-optimized silicon for demanding applications in data centers, AI/ML, automotive, and high-performance computing (HPC). By offering scalable and power-efficient solutions, Baya Systems enables innovation and differentiation in the rapidly evolving semiconductor landscape.

Company Website
Baya Systems Funding Information
Unknown - Total Funding Raised
$12.5M - Most recent funding amount
2 - Number of funding rounds
23 Oct, 2023 - Latest funding round
Lead Investors:
Battery Ventures
Bessemer Venture Partners
Intel Capital
Amplify Partners
Valor Equity Partners

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