Dr. Manu Kumar
About Dr. Manu Kumar
Dr. Manu Kumar is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor, known for co-founding HiHello and K9 Ventures, and his significant contributions to companies like Lyft and Twilio.
HiHello Co-founder and CEO
Dr. Manu Kumar serves as the Co-founder and CEO of HiHello, a company focused on smart contact management solutions. Since the company's inception, he has guided it through innovation and growth, leveraging his extensive background in software engineering and entrepreneurship. HiHello offers digital business cards and contactless communication options, aiming to transform how individuals and businesses manage their contacts.
Education and Expertise
Dr. Manu Kumar moved from India to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to attend Carnegie Mellon University. There, he received a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering and an M.S. in Software Engineering. Following that, he moved to Palo Alto, California, to pursue further studies. At Stanford University, he earned another M.S. and a Ph.D. in Computer Science. His robust educational background lays the foundation for his expertise in software engineering and entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurial Background
Dr. Kumar began his coding journey at the age of 13 after attending a summer camp, which sparked his interest in software engineering. He founded his first company, SneakerLabs, Inc., which was acquired for over $100M in early 2000. In 2002, he became the CEO of iMeet, Inc., which later merged with Netspoke. Netspoke was subsequently sold to Premiere Conferencing in 2005.
Founder of K9 Ventures
In 2009, Dr. Kumar founded K9 Ventures, a firm specializing in pre-seed investments. K9 Ventures has notably invested in high-profile companies such as Lyft and Twilio. This venture capital firm provides strategic support to startups at their earliest stages, helping them navigate the challenges of growth and development.
Co-founded CardMunch and Carta
Dr. Kumar co-founded CardMunch in 2009 and Carta in 2012. Carta, a technology company that specializes in capitalization table management and valuation software, has recently been valued at $1.7B. These ventures have further established Dr. Kumar's role as a key player in the tech startup ecosystem.