Bala Girisaballa
About Bala Girisaballa
Bala Girisaballa is a Managing Director at Vista Equity Partners, with a background in entrepreneurship and technology. He has founded three startups, worked at major companies like Yahoo!, Microsoft, and Oracle, and is an active speaker and advisor in the startup ecosystem.
Current Role at Vista Equity Partners
Bala Girisaballa serves as Managing Director at Vista Equity Partners, a position he has held since 2020. He operates from Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, where he focuses on investment strategies and portfolio management. His role involves identifying growth opportunities within the technology sector and guiding startups in their development.
Previous Experience at Major Tech Companies
Bala Girisaballa has held significant positions at several leading technology firms. He worked at Yahoo! as Head of the Yahoo! Entrepreneur Network from 2010 to 2013. Prior to that, he was Director of Product Strategy at Oracle Corporation from 2001 to 2006. He also served as Managing Director of Microsoft Accelerator India from 2016 to 2018 and held the position of Vice President at iViZ Security from 2008 to 2010.
Entrepreneurial Ventures and Startups
Throughout his career, Bala Girisaballa has founded three startups, showcasing his commitment to entrepreneurship. He has also been an advisor to startups and venture funds for over 10 years, providing guidance and expertise in business strategy and innovation.
Education and Academic Background
Bala Girisaballa earned his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. He also holds a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) in Chemical Engineering from Osmania University. His educational background has equipped him with a strong foundation in business and technology.
Public Speaking and Contributions to Literature
Bala Girisaballa is an active speaker at events, focusing on topics such as entrepreneurship, business disruption, and innovation. He has contributed chapters to notable books, including 'Wiley’s Black Book Enterprise 4.0' and the India edition of 'Do More Faster.' Additionally, he runs a YouTube channel where he discusses Indian history and culture.