Immad Akhund: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Investment
Biography of Immad Akhund:
Immad Akhund serves as the co-founder and CEO of Mercury,
showcasing his leadership prowess in the tech industry. Before establishing
Mercury, he held the position of CEO and co-founder at Heyzap, a prominent
mobile developer tools company that was acquired for $45 million in 2016.
Immad Akhund is not only a successful entrepreneur but also
an influential figure in Silicon Valley's investment landscape. With a keen eye
for potential, he has invested in over 100 seed-stage startups, contributing to
the growth of innovative ventures such as Airtable, Substack, and Rappi.
Entrepreneurial Genesis: Immad's Journey from RevMap to
Clickpass
Immad Akhund, a serial entrepreneur hailing from the United
Kingdom, embarked on his entrepreneurial voyage with RevMap, a London-based
venture akin to a "Yelp" for the city. Following this initial
endeavor, he ventured into the dynamic realm of tech startups, marking the beginning
of an illustrious career.
Academic Foundation: Immad's Path to Expertise
Immad Akhund's journey to success was paved with a solid
academic foundation. He pursued his Master of Arts in Computer Science at the
esteemed University of Cambridge from 2002 to 2006, honing his skills and
expertise in the field.
Bloomberg and Aquila: Formative Years in Software
Development
Immad Akhund's early career included roles as a Financial
Software Developer at Bloomberg (September 2005 - October 2006) and as a
Software Developer at Aquila (June 2004 - August 2005). These experiences laid
the foundation for his subsequent entrepreneurial endeavors, equipping him with
valuable insights into software development and financial technologies.
Clickpass: Immad's CTO Role and Acquisition
In 2007, Immad co-founded Clickpass, assuming the pivotal
role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Clickpass, a participant in the
prestigious Y Combinator summer 2007 round, propelled Immad to San Francisco,
where he played a significant role in the company's growth and development. In
2008, Clickpass was acquired by Yola, marking another milestone in Immad's
entrepreneurial journey.
Heyzap: A Venture into Developer Tools and Mobile
Advertising
In 2008, Immad Akhund, alongside Jude Gomila, co-founded
Heyzap, a platform specializing in developer tools and mobile advertising. Serving
as CEO until 2017, Immad played a pivotal role in Heyzap's growth. The company
reached a significant milestone when it was acquired by Fyber for $45 million,
solidifying its position in the tech industry.
Diversifying Portfolios: Immad's Venture into Investing
Since 2016, Immad Akhund has been actively involved in
investing, diversifying his portfolio with strategic investments in prominent
startups. Notable investments include Airtable, Axius, Starcity, Blueberry
Medical, CaptivateIQ, Golden, Iris Automation, PullRequest, Shogun, and Sway
Finance. Immad's foray into investing underscores his commitment to supporting
and nurturing burgeoning startups poised for success.
Immad Akhund: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Investment / Biography of Immad Akhund:/ Immad Akhund:
Mercury: Revolutionizing Banking for Tech Companies
In 2017, Immad Akhund embarked on a new venture by founding
Mercury, a banking startup aimed at facilitating the scaling process for
technology companies. As CEO of Mercury, Immad spearheaded efforts to
streamline banking services tailored to the unique needs of tech enterprises,
marking a significant innovation in the financial sector.
Immad Akhund: Bridging Banking and Startups with Mercury
Immad Akhund serves as the co-founder and CEO of Mercury, a
fintech company established in 2017. Recognizing the challenges faced by
startups in traditional banking, Akhund ventured into creating Mercury to
provide tailored banking services. Launched in 2019, Mercury has garnered
substantial support, raising over $163 million from prominent investors such as
a16z, CRV, and Coatue, among others.
A Journey of Innovation: From Heyzap to Mercury
Immad Akhund's entrepreneurial journey traces back to his
co-founding of Heyzap, a venture that played a significant role in the mobile
advertising landscape. Following Heyzap's acquisition by Fyber, Akhund ventured
into revolutionizing banking services for startups with Mercury. His transition
from Heyzap to Mercury underscores his commitment to innovation and addressing
industry challenges.
Immad Akhund: An Investor Championing Startup Success
Beyond his roles at Mercury and Heyzap, Immad Akhund
actively engages in angel investing, supporting over 300 startups, including
AirTable, Rappi, Papa, Deel, and Substack. Akhund's investment endeavors
reflect his dedication to nurturing and empowering emerging startups,
contributing to the vibrant ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Some companies where Immad Akhund invested
- Golden - building a knowledge graph
- SuperFarm - developing blockchain-based, DeFi platform for farming
- Nurx- telemedicine service company
- Airtable - cloud-based collaboration platform
- Rippling - software company
- Zero Hash - financial services company
- Starcity - builds co-housing microapartments
- Pull Request - offering code review as a service
- Atrium - providing legal services
- Rain – Hardware
- Openlayer - Business/Productivity Software
- Honey Homes - Services (B2C Non-Financial)
- Playground- Multimedia and Design Software
- Linear - Business/Productivity Software
- Proof of play - Entertainment Software
- Craftwork - Services (B2C Non-Financial)
- Coris - Business/Productivity Software
- Open Pipe - Business/Productivity Software
- Iris Automation – AI -based collision avoidance systems for industrial drones and other autonomous flying machines.
