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Dev Khare is a Partner at Lightspeed India Partners, a prominent venture capital firm. He is an experienced investor and former product leader known for his focus on early-stage investments in enterprise software (SaaS), fintech, and B2B platforms.
Dev Khare primarily invests in early-stage technology companies within the enterprise software (SaaS), fintech, and B2B platform sectors. He looks for innovative solutions with strong product-market fit and potential for global scalability, often backing founders building for the Indian and international markets.
Dev Khare works as a Partner at Lightspeed India Partners. Lightspeed India Partners is a leading venture capital firm with offices in India, dedicated to investing in and supporting early-stage technology companies across various sectors.
Dev Khare is a Partner at Lightspeed India Partners in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, where he focuses on early-stage and growth investments across the enterprise software, SaaS, and fintech sectors. Prior to joining the firm in 2012, he served as a Principal at Venrock and held operating positions at Covad Communications and Aditi Technologies. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School alongside dual Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and The Wharton School. At Lightspeed, he helps deploy a $500 million early-stage fund targeting India and Southeast Asia, backing notable portfolio companies such as Innovaccer and Darwinbox, the latter of which achieved a $1.2 billion valuation following a $72 million funding round in 2022. Khare currently concentrates on scaling B2B commerce and enterprise technology startups while serving on multiple corporate boards.
Dev Khare stands as a distinguished Partner at Lightspeed India Partners, a leading venture capital firm renowned for its early-stage investments in India's burgeoning technology ecosystem. As a key figure at Lightspeed India, Dev Khare is instrumental in identifying and backing transformative companies, primarily focusing on sectors poised for significant disruption and growth. His investment thesis centers around enterprise software (SaaS), fintech, and B2B platforms, where he actively seeks out visionary founders who are building innovative solutions not just for the Indian market but also with global aspirations.
Dev Khare's expertise lies in his deep understanding of product-led growth and market dynamics, cultivated through a rich and diverse career background. Before joining Lightspeed India Partners, he served as a Principal at Lightspeed Venture Partners in the US, gaining valuable experience in the broader venture capital landscape. Prior to his venture capital journey, Khare made significant contributions in the technology industry, notably at Google. During his tenure at Google, he held various product management roles across critical areas such as Chrome, Android, and Search, where he honed his skills in developing and scaling world-class products. This hands-on experience in product development and strategy provides him with a unique perspective when evaluating potential investments and advising portfolio companies. Furthermore, Dev Khare was also a co-founder of a startup that was successfully acquired by Google, underscoring his entrepreneurial spirit and firsthand understanding of the startup journey.
His academic credentials further solidify his strong foundation. Dev Khare holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a testament to his business acumen and strategic thinking. He also earned a B.Tech from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, providing him with a robust technical background that is invaluable in assessing deep tech and software-centric ventures.
At Lightspeed India Partners, Dev Khare has been a crucial force behind several notable investments that have gone on to achieve significant success. While Lightspeed India's portfolio is a collaborative effort, companies in his focus areas often include industry leaders like Postman, a global API development platform; Darwinbox, a leading HR technology solution; Yellow.ai, an enterprise conversational AI platform; and Hasura, a GraphQL engine. These investments exemplify his commitment to supporting companies that are redefining their respective industries and demonstrating strong potential for global scalability.
Dev Khare's role extends beyond capital allocation; he is a hands-on investor who provides strategic guidance, mentorship, and operational support to his portfolio companies. His dedication to fostering innovation and empowering founders makes him a highly respected figure in the Indian venture capital scene, continuously driving Lightspeed India Partners' mission to back the next generation of technology leaders.
