Biography of Vani Kola: Founder & Co-Founder of Kalaari Capital-Rightwrok and Certus Software
Biography of Vani Kola:
Vani Kola is a prominent Indian venture capitalist and the
founder and managing director of Kalaari Capital, a venture capital firm that
focuses on early-stage investments. In 2014, Fortune India recognized her as
one of the most influential women in Indian business.
Vani Kola is a distinguished venture capitalist and the
founder and managing director of Kalaari Capital. With a career spanning 22
years in Silicon Valley, she founded two successful companies, Rightwrok and
Certus Software. Upon returning to India, Vani shifted her focus to venture
capital, partnering with NEA (New Enterprise Associates) to leverage her
experience in the Indian market.
Early Life and Education
Born in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana), India,
around 1963 or 1964, Vani Kola started her higher education at the young age of
16. She studied electrical engineering at Osmania University, where she was one
of only six women in a class of 400 students. After completing her Bachelor of
Engineering, she moved to the United States in the late 1980s to earn a Master
of Engineering degree from Arizona State University.
Career in Silicon Valley
Kola spent 22 years building a successful career in Silicon
Valley. As a serial entrepreneur, she founded and led RightWorks, an
e-procurement company. After just four years, she sold the company to ICG for
$657 million. Following that, she founded and led Certus Software.
A New Chapter: Returning to India
After selling her second company, Kola decided to take a break
and reflect on her next move. She took six months to pause and think about her
future. During this time, she traveled to India for the first time in over 20
years and was struck by how much the country had changed. “It felt like a new
country,” she recalls. This unexpected draw led her to believe that if she
didn’t engage with the evolving India, she would miss out. Driven by her
entrepreneurial spirit, she told her husband they should move to India.
Venture Capital Journey in India
In 2006, after her achievements in Silicon Valley, Kola
returned to India with a vision to start a venture capital firm, inspired by
the growing opportunities there. She co-founded Indo-US Venture Partners (IUVP)
with Vinod Dham. This partnership with New Enterprise Associates (NEA) marked
her entry into the Indian venture capital scene. By 2012, IUVP was rebranded as
Kalaari Capital.
Growth and Leadership at Kalaari Capital
Kalaari Capital launched with $150 million in September
2012. Under Kola's leadership, the firm expanded significantly, managing $650
million in assets by 2017. As the managing director, Kola focuses on
early-stage investments in technology, working closely with entrepreneurs to
build global companies. Her notable investments include Dream11, Urban Ladder,
Snapdeal, and Myntra, spanning sectors like e-commerce, mobile services,
education, and healthcare.
Learning and Adapting to the Indian Market
Kola’s transition to the Indian market was a learning
experience. She realized she needed to let go of many of her assumptions about
what works in business from her Silicon Valley experience. The Indian tech
landscape was not as developed as she had anticipated, and her previous
knowledge did not always apply. This gap presented both challenges and
opportunities. She began exploring emerging areas like e-commerce and gaming,
which were not yet heavily covered by traditional investors.
Biography of Vani Kola: Founder & Co-Founder of Kalaari Capital-Rightwrok and Certus Software/Entrepreneur/Investor/Success story of Vani Kola
Embracing the Risks of Early-Stage Investing
Kola's focus shifted to early-stage investments, where she
found excitement in working with startups from their inception. Despite the
inherent risks and unpredictability of investing in nascent companies, she
enjoyed the challenge and potential for high value creation. Kola’s approach
involved staying agile and open-minded, adapting to new trends and potential
red flags in the fast-evolving market.
A Supporter of Indian E-Commerce
Vani Kola is renowned for her significant contributions to
the e-commerce sector in India. Her early investments in prominent companies
such as Flipkart and Myntra have been instrumental in shaping the landscape of
online retail in the country. Her foresight and support for emerging e-commerce
platforms underscore her role in fostering innovation and growth within the
industry.
Board Member of Successful Startups
In addition to her role at Kalaari Capital, Vani Kola serves
on the boards of several successful startups, including Dream11, Snapdeal, and
Urban Ladder. Her involvement with these companies highlights her commitment to
nurturing and guiding high-potential ventures. Vani’s strategic insights and
mentorship have been crucial in helping these startups scale and succeed in
competitive markets.
Kalaari Capital’s Mission and Evolution
Kalaari Capital, founded by Vani Kola, is a $160 million
venture capital fund that focuses on investing in early-stage,
technology-oriented companies in India. The firm is supported by a robust
advisory team based in Bangalore and plays a pivotal role in nurturing startups
through various stages of growth. Initially known as IndoUS Advisors and
partnered with NEA, the company rebranded as Kalaari Capital to better align
with its mission of fostering technological innovation and entrepreneurship in
India.
Awards and Recognition
Vani Kola has received numerous accolades for her
contributions to business and entrepreneurship. In 2014, Forbes named her one
of the most powerful women in Indian business. She was honored with the TiE
Delhi-NCR Women Entrepreneurship Summit Award on July 20, 2018, in Delhi. In
2015, The Economic Times awarded her the Midas Touch Award for Best Investor.
She also received the NDTV Women of Worth Award for leadership excellence and
was recognized as one of LinkedIn's Top Voices in 2016. Kola was featured in Fortune
India’s list of 'Most Powerful Women in Business' in both 2018 and 2019.
Philanthropy Efforts
ACT Grants
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vani Kola played a key
role in launching ACT Grants, a nonprofit initiative that brings together
entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Established in April 2020, ACT Grants
has amassed a fund of ₹100 crores and has supported 50 different ventures.
Heartfulness Institute
Kola is also deeply involved with the Heartfulness
Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to human transformation through
yoga and meditation. She serves as a Heartfulness trainer and actively supports
the institute's mission.
Personal Life
Vani Kola is married to Srinivas Kola, and they have two
daughters. In the 2000s, she participated in marathons and climbed Mount
Kilimanjaro. She has been practicing meditation for over two decades and
meditates daily. In 2021, she was highlighted as an example of someone who
prefers returning to in-person interactions over virtual communications due to
"Zoom Fatigue."
A Nurturing Environment for Ambition
Growing up in a supportive family that encouraged her to
pursue her passions, Vani Kola was always motivated to follow her dreams. She
excelled in mathematics and was urged to forge a path in a male-dominated
field. Her nurturing environment fostered her confidence to take unconventional
routes and embrace risks. Vani’s upbringing helped her become a trailblazer,
comfortable with being one of the few in her field and making choices that
aligned with her aspirations, even if they were not the norm.
Embracing Unconventional Paths
Vani’s readiness to take unconventional paths is evident in
her career choices. She reflects on how her journey, including becoming a
mother and starting a new company at the age of 30, prepared her for future
challenges. Moving back to India at 41, a decision many might view as risky,
was for Vani an adventure and a motivating challenge rather than a risk. Her
approach involves focusing on the positive aspects and potential upsides of
decisions rather than the risks. Vani’s confidence, perseverance, and
conviction to trust her intuition and overcome setbacks have been integral to
her ongoing success.
The Test of Character and Values
Kola views entrepreneurship as a test of character and
values. She emphasizes that despite the temptations and ups and downs of the
entrepreneurial path, maintaining common sense and grounded values is crucial.
Having witnessed multiple market bubbles, she learned to stay level-headed
about both success and failure. For instance, when faced with the chance to
sell her company for $1.2 billion, she relied on her practical judgment rather
than chasing unrealistic valuations. Her decision to sell was guided by the
understanding that the market’s excitement was just a bubble, and her pragmatic
approach ultimately served her well.
A timeline of Vani Kola’s career and achievements:
1963-1964
Birth: Vani Kola is born in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now
Telangana), India.
1980s
Education in the U.S.: Vani moves to the United States to
earn a Master of Engineering degree from Arizona State University after
completing her Bachelor of Engineering from Osmania University.
1990s
Silicon Valley Career: Vani builds a successful career in
Silicon Valley, founding RightWorks and Certus Software.
2000
RightWorks Sold: Vani sells RightWorks for $657 million to
ICG.
2006
Return to India: Vani returns to India, motivated by the
country’s evolving market opportunities.
2006
Co-founds IUVP: Vani co-founds Indo-US Venture Partners
(IUVP) with Vinod Dham, marking her entry into Indian venture capital.
2012
Kalaari Capital Established: IUVP is rebranded as Kalaari
Capital, with an initial fund of $150 million.
2014
Recognition: Vani is recognized by Fortune India as one of
the most influential women in Indian business.
2017
Growth of Kalaari Capital: Kalaari Capital grows to manage
$650 million in assets under Vani’s leadership.
2018
TiE Delhi-NCR Award: Vani receives the TiE Delhi-NCR Women
Entrepreneurship Summit Award on July 20.
2019
Recognition: Vani is featured in Fortune India’s list of
'Most Powerful Women in Business.'
2020
ACT Grants Launched: Vani plays a key role in launching ACT
Grants to support ventures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021
Personal Insights: Vani is highlighted for her preference
for in-person interactions over virtual communications due to “Zoom Fatigue.”
2024
Ongoing Leadership: Vani continues leading Kalaari Capital,
supporting startups, and contributing to various philanthropic efforts.
