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Entrepreneurs supporting entrepreneurs
We Believe That Great Entrepreneurs Change The World for The Better
ABOUT
Silicon Valley Quad (SVQ) is a syndicate of investors that provides seed capital to US incorporated first-time technology entrepreneurs. SVQ provides ample capital for 18 to 24 months to reach a meaningful milestone, setting companies up to attract venture capital from Series A investors. SVQ invests in both B2B and B2C startups.
SVQ is funded and led by veteran technology investors and entrepreneurs BV Jagadeesh, Raju Reddy and Kanwal Rekhi. Collectively, they have been involved with over two hundred successful startups creating tens of billions of market value and hundreds of thousands of jobs. The fourth member is Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill who is the Operating Partner.
SVQ has assembled a syndicate of passive investors who provide supplemental capital which enables it to lead seed rounds and engage deeply with entrepreneurs. It has also partnered with Inventus Capital Partners (www.inventuscap.com) to co-invest in all deals—this unique model allows SVQ to make $2.5 - 3 million investments so companies can get back to growing business instead of chasing more angel capital. SVQ seeks to build a very diverse portfolio and invests in approximately 8 deals a year.
Although we can't respond to all submissions, if you're a first-time entrepreneur seeking seed funding for a US-incorporated early-stage technology business please share details using the contact form.
TEAM
Kanwal was the first Silicon Valley Indo-American Founder and CEO to take a venture-backed company public on the NASDAQ. He then became high profile super-angel while co-founding and leading TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) into the largest global mentoring network for Indian entrepreneurs. Subsequently he was a founding Managing Director at Inventus Capital. He has served on dozens of corporate boards.He earned a BSEE from IIT-Bombay and an MSEE along with Honorary Doctorate from Michigan Tech in both Engineering and Business.
Raju Reddy is the founder and former CEO of Sierra Atlantic, a company that grew to be a best-in-class global services company over a period of 17 years before being acquired by Hitachi. Previously, Raju spent 10 years at Intel. He enjoys working with young entrepreneurs and mentoring to build great global companies.
Raju currently serves on the board of Eltropy, Flam, HealthCube and Seclore. Raju is currently a Board member of RAND Corp Center for Asia Pacific Policy, FalconX, and EnActe Arts.
BV is a successful Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur and angel Investor. A successful serial entrepreneur, BV was the Founding investor & CEO of NetScaler, pioneering the concept of Application Delivery, ultimately acquired by Citrix for $325M where BV served as Group VP and GM for Citrix’s Application Networking division. Prior to Netscaler, BV was Co-Founder & CTO of Exodus communications, pioneering the concept of cloud hosting and data centers resulting in a highly successful IPO and $30 billion market cap.
Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill is excited to put her 20+ years in nonprofit programming and fundraising to work as Operating Partner at SVQ, where she manages the day-to-day operations.
During her nonprofit career she worked for a wide range of organizations such as The Asia Society and Museum, American India Foundation and NEXUS in New York as well as San Jose Museum of Art and India Community Center in Silicon Valley.
Manu brings deep experience building digital consumer businesses and the ongoing consumerization of business software. He has supported founders at Vivu (ACQ: Polycom), Dhingana (ACQ: rd.io), Genwi (ACQ: Persistent), Disco (ACQ: CultureAmp), Poshmark (IPO), FarFaria (Acq: JumpStart), j2play (ACQ: EA), Credit Sesame and many more. Manu is currently on the Boards of Flam, Talview and Out of the Blue. Manu co-founded Excelerate.it, dedicated to helping early-stage startups scale by connecting Founders with decision makers at Global 5000 corporations.
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AI PROPRIETARY TOOLS DRIVING ALPHA
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WHAT PEOPLE SAY
MANISH CHANDRA
Founder & CEO
This is my third company backed by the guys at SVQ. Beyond the investment, their unique understanding of how to build new fast-growth companies, and the level of trust between us has been invaluable.
JAYARAM BHAT
Founder & CEO
It has been a pleasure to work with SVQ!
Kanwal understood our technology and recognized our market opportunity right away and syndicated our seed round in a very short time. Kanwal's wealth of industry experience has been invaluable as we grow our business.
SHOURYA AGARWAL
Founder & CEO
It's very rare to find believers who just don't back dreamers but work alongside almost 24*7 to make them great leaders and help them hands-on build great companies.
Manu and Raju have helped with hiring, KPIs, growth workshops and more.
THE GROUNDBREAKER
Exclusive launch details
Dubbed the “Godfather of the Silicon Valley’s Indian Mafia” by Fortune magazine, Rekhi was the first Indian to take a venture backed company on the US stock exchange. He rubbed shoulders with luminaries such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Larry Ellison on his meteoric ascent in the tech industry.
He went on to advise Presidents and Prime Ministers on culture-shifting policies, has invested in over 100 startups including exits like Exodus, Poshmark, and RedBus, and is perhaps best known for his work inspiring and launching the careers of thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs through the organization he co-founded - TiE.
I’ve known Kanwal since our days at Novell, and he’s always stood out for making bold calls long before they became conventional wisdom. Immigrants like him have shaped the DNA of Silicon Valley, and this book provides a firsthand account of how that transformation took place.
—Eric Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Futures; former CEO, Google
Kanwal Rekhi’s life is a testament to the power of the entrepreneurial spirit. From a Silicon Valley pioneer to a champion of India’s tech revolution, he has played a unique role in both American and Indian innovation. The Groundbreaker tells that story with honesty, passion, and great insights.
—Nandan M. Nilekani, co-founder and chairman, Infosys Technologies Limited
Kanwal Rekhi’s groundbreaking, ceiling-defining story—from post Partition India to being a Silicon Valley pioneer—is a powerful reminder of what’s possible: resilience, entrepreneurship, and leadership forged through the immigrant journey. It spans a remarkable personal and professional arc, and a legacy of mentorship that has shaped both his homeland and his adopted country.
—Laxman Narasimhan, former CEO, Starbucks; former CEO, PepsiCo, Latin America, Europe and Africa
If Kanwal is coming to any of your cities, he can make himself available to come in-person to your organization or as a virtual appearance as part of his book tour. Please write to kanwalrekhi@svquad.com to request the same.
Due to high demand and time constraints, we may be keeping the requests limited to folks placing bulk orders for over 100 copies of the book.
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Kanwal Rekhi narrates an inspiring story of impactful transformation—of his personal growth, of seeing and seizing opportunities to transform industries, and of evangelizing a culture of entrepreneurship. The book is truly a must-read for people interested in the US–India relationship, for entrepreneurs, and more generally for young people who wish to aspire and achieve.
—Arun M. Kumar, corporate leader, diplomat, investor, author
The Groundbreaker recounts a compelling narrative of innovation, discipline, andresilience. Kanwal Rekhi tells an honest story, detailing both his successes and his failures. Through anecdotes and good humour, Rekhi illustrates his unconventional path, showing how the American Dream is accessible to those who dare to try—and fail—and try again.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, member of US Congress
Kanwal Rekhi’s Groundbreaker is more than a memoir; it’s a powerful testament to the impact one individual can have on the entrepreneurial ecosystem. I’ve been fortunate to benefit from Kanwal’s guidance throughout my journey, from the early days of Kaboodle to the growth of Poshmark. This book captures the essence of his wisdom, strategic thinking and unwavering commitment to helping entrepreneurs build and thrive.
—Manish Chandra, founder and CEO, Poshmark
In The Groundbreaker, Kanwal Rekhi shares a life rich with lessons in resilience, innovation, and the enduring importance of values. For over forty years, I have known Kanwal as a man of both vision and integrity, and this book reflects that. It is a powerful reminder that true success lies not just in personal achievement, but in the positive impact we have on the world around us.
—N.R. Narayana Murthy, co-founder, Infosys Technologies Limited
I couldn’t put The Groundbreaker down—finished it in one sitting and found myself returning to it again and again. Each reading offers fresh insights. The book is packed with lessons—almost every page teaches you something. What struck me the most is the author’s clear, honest communication style-something I’ve witnessed as a powerful force for solving tough problems.
—Harish Mehta, author, The Maverick Effect; co-founder, NASSCOM
Kanwal is a pioneer, a change agent and an incredible trailblazer. He always challenged the status quo and achieved many firsts, redefining ‘entrepreneurship’ in the process. The Groundbreaker chronicles his inspiring journey from his humble beginnings to his enormous success, proving that with tenacity and hard work, you realize your full potential no matter where you start.
—Jayshree Ullal, CEO and chair, Arista Networks
“We don't do that in this country,” my professor said. I told him that I didn’t cheat. I found the test easy. The next time he gave a test, he stood directly behind me the entire time. When I scored even better on this one, the professor summoned me to his office again and said, If you’re cheating, you’re very good at it.’ Rather than get upset by his insult, I enjoyed knowing I had done well on the test. It was not my problem if the professor did not believe his own eyes.”
On a freezing cold night in 1967, Kanwal Rekhi arrived at the Michigan Tech campus as a student. He was part of the first wave of Indian émigrés, known as the $8 Men, a moniker stemming from India’s effort to stem the loss of brainpower from the country by allowing those who were leaving to take only $8 of currency. In the decades that followed, Rekhi went on to create history in the global technology and entrepreneurship space.