Shashi Srikantan
About Shashi Srikantan
Shashi Srikantan serves as the Managing Director and Head of Level Up Ventures at Hearst, where he focuses on supporting Black, Latino, and women entrepreneurs. He has extensive experience in operations strategy and investment, having held various roles at BNP Paribas, Fitch Ratings, and Credit Suisse.
Current Role at Hearst
Shashi Srikantan serves as the Managing Director and Head of Level Up Ventures at Hearst, a position he has held since 2020. In this role, he oversees the post-investment support and growth of portfolio companies. He works closely with Hearst executives and various business units to provide strategic guidance and mentorship. His focus includes bridging the funding gap for Black, Latino, and Women entrepreneurs through the initiatives of Level Up Ventures.
Previous Experience in Finance
Prior to his current role, Shashi Srikantan accumulated significant experience in the finance sector. He worked at Credit Suisse as an Associate from 2000 to 2004, followed by a position at BNP Paribas as Operations Strategy from 2004 to 2006. He then spent 14 years at Fitch Ratings, where he held the position of Director from 2006 until 2020. This extensive background in finance has contributed to his expertise in investment strategies and portfolio management.
Education and Expertise
Shashi Srikantan holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Columbia Business School. He also earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Finance from Villanova University. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his roles in investment and strategic guidance within the venture capital space.
Involvement with Global Women in VC
Since 2021, Shashi Srikantan has been a member of Global Women in VC, an organization dedicated to increasing the representation of women in the venture capital industry. His involvement reflects his commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within the investment community.
Entrepreneurial Initiatives
Shashi Srikantan is also recognized for his entrepreneurial efforts. He founded PLVSH, a company he led from 2015 to 2018. Additionally, he served as the Global Lead for Project Two.Eight at Columbia Venture Community from 2019 to 2020. These initiatives highlight his engagement with the startup ecosystem and his dedication to supporting emerging entrepreneurs.