Biogrphy of Ruchira Shukla: Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Synapses -Angel Investor
Biogrphy of Ruchira Shukla:
Ruchira Shukla is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at
Synapses, a venture capital fund specializing in STEM-based investments in
ClimateTech and HealthTech. She previously served as the Head of Disruptive
Technologies for South Asia at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and
was also the Global HealthTech Lead at IFC. Her career includes significant
roles at Lehman Brothers and contributions to various sectors.
Educational Achievements
Ruchira has a distinguished educational background. She
completed her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at The Wharton School,
University of Pennsylvania, where she was a Palmer Scholar and received several
honors, including the Director’s List, Omnicom Fellowship, and the Lehman
Brothers Scholarship. She also holds an MBA in Finance and General Management
from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, and a Bachelor of Technology
in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
Additionally, she is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and was awarded the
National Talent Scholarship.
Early Career: Gaining Valuable Experience
After graduating in 1994, the individual began their career
as an Engineer at Engineers India Limited, where they designed equipment for
petrochemical plants and refineries. Their role included ensuring the
successful installation and commissioning of these systems. This experience
laid the foundation for their future ventures.
Consulting and Strategy: Building Expertise
From 1997 to 2000, they worked as an Engagement Manager at
Mitchell Madison Group in New York. Here, they led strategy projects for
Fortune 250 clients, focusing on revenue growth, cost reduction, and asset
management. This role honed their skills in strategic planning and business
consulting.
Innovative Ventures: Leading Growth
In 2000, they joined Zeborg as a Vice President and Founding
Team Member. At Zeborg, a technology startup offering an online B2B procurement
platform, they raised $50 million in the first round of financing and took
charge of various operational responsibilities. This included product design,
development, and pricing. Their leadership helped Zeborg expand rapidly before
its sale to Emptoris in 2003.
Biogrphy of Ruchira Shukla: Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Synapses-Angel investor/ Entrepreneur/Success story of Ruchira Shukla/Investments Ruchira
Consulting for Fortune 250 Companies
In 2003, they moved to Opera Solutions as a Principal, where
they were instrumental in launching and growing the company from a small
startup to a large enterprise with Fortune 250 clients. Their efforts
contributed to significant business growth during this period.
Strategy and Private Equity: Gaining Influence
In 2006, they briefly worked as a Senior Manager at Boston
Consulting Group in New York, focusing on strategy consulting for several
Fortune 250 companies. The following year, they joined Lehman Brothers as a
Private Equity professional, managing global investments across various
sectors.
Regional Leadership in Investment
From 2012 to 2015, they worked at the International Finance
Corporation (IFC), first as the Regional Lead for Technology, Media, and
Telecom Investments in South Asia. They handled equity and debt investments in
these sectors across multiple South Asian countries. Later, they became the
Head for South Asia in Disruptive Technologies, managing direct equity and
venture capital funds and representing IFC on various boards and LPACs.
Current Role: Driving Innovation
Since April 2024, they have been a Co-Founder and Managing
Partner at Synapses in New Delhi. In this role, they are deeply involved in
shaping the company's future and leading new initiatives in the industry.
A Storied Career at IFC
Before her current role, Ruchira worked with the
International Finance Corporation (IFC), a part of the World Bank Group, where
she led the Disruptive Technology Investments for South Asia. In this position,
she was responsible for investing in early-stage tech companies and venture
capital funds, and she served on the boards of various startups and advisory
committees. Notable investments she managed include companies like Upgrad,
Blackbuck, Bizongo, Tata1mg, Medgenome, and Byju’s. Additionally, she led IFC’s
global HealthTech investments, focusing on advancing health technology in
emerging markets.
Launch of Synapses Venture Fund
Ruchira Shukla and Karthik Chandrasekar have announced the
launch of Synapses, a new venture fund with a $125 million investment pool. The
fund is dedicated to supporting early-stage companies working in the STEM
fields of climate-tech and health-tech. Shukla, who previously led venture
capital investments in South Asia and served on the boards of notable startups,
brings her extensive experience to this new initiative. The goal of Synapses is
to back companies that not only have a solid market fit but also offer
meaningful solutions to global challenges.
Early Investment Experiences and Financial Roles
Earlier in their career, they gained experience in
early-stage investments at IFC, focusing on Telecom, Media, Technology, and
Infrastructure from February 2012 to December 2013. They also worked at Nomura
(formerly Lehman Brothers) from July 2008 to October 2011 in TMT Investment
Banking, handling M&A, restructuring, and debt refinancing. Their diverse
experience includes substantial roles in major firms and startups, showcasing
their expertise in investment and strategic business growth.
Regional Leadership and Major Investments
Previously, from September 2015 to March 2024, they held the
position of Head for South Asia in Disruptive Technologies at the International
Finance Corporation (IFC). They managed direct equity and venture capital funds
across diverse sectors like Consumer Internet, Healthcare Technology, EduTech,
and CleanTech. Their role included representing IFC on the boards of several
prominent companies, such as 1mg, Byju, and Blackbuck, and participating
actively in LPACs with IDG, Stellaris, and Pi Ventures.
Board Roles and Investments in Emerging Companies
Their extensive investment portfolio also includes notable
positions as an investor and board director at Bizongo from April 2018 to
February 2024 and at BlackBuck from March 2017 to February 2024. They have also
been involved with upGrad and MEDGENOME, serving as an investor and board
observer from June 2021 to January 2024. Their investments span various
sectors, including logistics, education, and healthcare.
Entrepreneurial Ventures and Recent Investments
In April 2024, the individual co-founded Synapses in New
Delhi, where they serve as the Managing Partner. This role marks their latest
venture into shaping and leading new initiatives in the industry. Prior to
this, they were an angel investor in several innovative startups. From March
2022 to March 2024, they invested in MasterChow, a food tech company, and from
May 2022 to March 2024, they supported LaundryMate, a laundry service startup.
Commitment to Climate-Tech and Health-Tech
Shukla and Chandrasekar are particularly focused on
climate-tech and health-tech, areas they believe are critical to solving
today’s most pressing problems. They aim to dive deep into these sectors rather
than adopting a broad, generalist approach. This focused strategy is intended
to drive significant advancements and make a substantial impact in addressing
the global challenges associated with climate change and health.
Expertise and Vision
With Shukla’s background in overseeing disruptive technology
investments and Chandrasekar’s experience in managing venture capital, Synapses
is well-positioned to make a meaningful impact. Their combined expertise and
strategic vision are expected to guide the fund’s investments and support the
growth of innovative startups. By tackling the complexities of these
high-impact sectors, Synapses aims to drive both financial returns and positive
societal change.
Broad Experience Across Industries
Ruchira also managed IFC’s South Asia operations in
Technology, Media, and Telecom. Her extensive background includes roles at the
Boston Consulting Group and Lehman Brothers. With over 25 years of experience,
she has expertise in venture capital, private equity, strategy consulting, and
investment banking across Asia, the US, and Europe. Her interests span various
sectors such as consumer internet, enterprise technologies, B2B eCommerce,
HealthTech, Edutech, and eLogistics, with a focus on how emerging technologies
like Web 3.0, AI, IoT, and blockchain can transform traditional industries.
A timeline with just the dates and brief explanations:
1994: Graduated with a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from
IIT Delhi.
1994-1997: Engineer at Engineers India Limited, designing
equipment for petrochemical plants.
1997-2000: Engagement Manager at Mitchell Madison Group,
leading strategy projects.
2000-2003: VP at Zeborg, raising $50M and managing product
development before its acquisition.
2003-2006: Principal at Opera Solutions, driving company
growth and securing Fortune 250 clients.
2006-2007: Senior Manager at Boston Consulting Group,
focusing on strategy consulting.
2007-2008: Private Equity professional at Lehman Brothers,
managing global investments.
2008-2011: Worked at Nomura in TMT Investment Banking,
handling M&A and debt refinancing.
2012-2015: Head of Technology, Media, and Telecom
Investments for South Asia at IFC.
2015-2024: Head of Disruptive Technologies at IFC, managing
equity and venture capital investments.
March 2022 - March 2024: Angel investor in MasterChow.
May 2022 - March 2024: Supported LaundryMate, a laundry
service startup.
April 2024: Co-founded Synapses, a venture capital fund
focusing on ClimateTech and HealthTech.
