Kanwal Rekhi

About

I went from being laid off from my first 3 jobs to the first Indian-American founder to take a VC-backed company public when Excelan, a networking startup that helped lay the foundation of the internet, got listed on the US stock exchange in 1987. After Excelan’s IPO and merger, I realized my next chapter was enabling others to find their potential. I’ve mentored 10,000+ entrepreneurs and invested in more than 200 early-stage teams. Some of my notable outcomes include Exodus Communications (IPO), Poshmark (IPO), redBus (acq. Ibibo Group), Sierra Atlantic (Hitachi), and NetMagic (NTT). Today, as Managing Director of Inventus Capital Partners and SV Quad, I focus on people, not ideas, and our portfolio has delivered six IPOs and over 20 acquisitions to date. The goal isn’t just returns, it’s resilience. My mission is simple: create 10 million entrepreneurs by India’s 100th anniversary. That’s why I co-founded TiE, mentor relentlessly, and stay close to the problems founders are solving. If you’re tackling something ambitious, laughing through the chaos, and betting on yourself, let’s talk.