Akshay Kothari

Akshay Kothari is a prominent figure in the venture capital landscape, known for his dual expertise as a successful entrepreneur and a seasoned investor. He currently serves as a Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, a leading global multi-stage venture capital firm. Prior to his career in venture capital, Kothari co-founded Pulse, a popular mobile news reader application that was acquired by LinkedIn in 2013. Following the acquisition, he transitioned to a leadership role at LinkedIn as Vice President of Product, where he continued to shape innovative digital experiences. This operational background provides him with a deep understanding of product development, market dynamics, and the challenges faced by early-stage companies.

At Lightspeed, Kothari focuses on investments across various sectors, including enterprise software, SaaS, developer tools, and fintech, often targeting companies poised for significant disruption and growth. His portfolio includes investments in highly successful companies such as Notion, Figma, and Airtable, demonstrating his keen eye for identifying transformative technologies and strong founding teams. Lightspeed Venture Partners, where Kothari is a key decision-maker, manages over $25 billion in capital across its various funds, enabling it to support companies from their inception through to their growth stages.

As a Partner, Kothari is actively involved in sourcing, evaluating, and leading investment rounds. While Lightspeed's investment strategy is flexible, their typical initial check sizes for companies range significantly depending on the stage. For seed-stage companies, Lightspeed often provides initial capital ranging from $1 million to $5 million. For Series A rounds, where Kothari frequently leads, the firm's first checks can extend from $5 million up to $20 million or more, reflecting their commitment to substantial early-stage support. Kothari's involvement extends beyond capital, offering strategic guidance and leveraging his extensive network to help portfolio companies scale. He is listed as an investor in over 40 companies on platforms like Crunchbase, underscoring his active participation in the startup ecosystem.

Kothari's unique blend of entrepreneurial success and venture capital acumen positions him as a valuable partner for founders. His ability to empathize with the startup journey, combined with Lightspeed's robust resources and global reach, makes him a sought-after investor for ambitious technology companies aiming for significant market impact.