Aaref Hilaly
InvestorPartner at Bain Capital Ventures · Board director at Decagon · Board director at Clari
Bay Area
Writes $1M – $100M checks · typically $10M
About
Works with small teams of builders using AI to solve problems previously unaddressed by software. Before joining BCV in 2020, he co-founded two companies and spent seven years as a partner at Sequoia.
Contact· self-published, not guessed
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFuture of WorkSaaS
Board director at Decagon
Intro paths
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In turn, Aaref can intro founders to Decagon's investors below.
Decagon's investors · 15
A*San Francisco · $500K – $3M checks · since 2024AccelPalo Alto · $1.6M – $70M checks · since 2024ACME CapitalSan Francisco · since 2024Andreessen HorowitzMenlo Park · $500K – $50M checks · since 2024Atacama VenturesSan Francisco · since 2024AudaciousSan Francisco · since 2024Bain Capital VenturesBoston · $1M – $100M checks · since 2024ChemistrySan Francisco · since 2024Coatue ManagementNew York · $1M – $20M checks · since 2024Elad GilSan Francisco · $100K – $10M checks · since 2024Forerunner VenturesSan Francisco · $1M – $20M checks · since 2024Index VenturesSan Francisco · $540K – $10.8M checks · since 2024SV AngelSan Francisco · since 2024TCP CapitalMiami · since 2024Wayfinder VenturesSan Francisco · $300K – $1M checks · since 2024
Co-founders at Decagon
JZ
Jesse ZhangExecutive Officer, Director
IZ
Ivan ZhouDirector
Board director at Clari
Intro paths
→
In turn, Aaref can intro founders to Clari's investors below.
Clari's investors · 15
B Capital GroupManhattan Beach · $10M – $50M checks · since 2018B4 Capital$10M – $50M checks · since 2018Bain Capital VenturesBoston · $1M – $100M checks · since 2018Blue Cloud VenturesNew York · $5M – $30M checks · since 2018HubSpot VenturesCambridge · $500K – $5M checks · since 2018Level EquityNew York · $30M checks · since 2018Light Street CapitalPalo Alto · since 2018Madrona Venture GroupSeattle · $2M – $10M checks · since 2018Quest Venture PartnersMenlo Park · $100K – $1.5M checks · since 2018Sapphire VenturesMenlo Park · $5M – $20M checks · since 2018Sequoia CapitalMenlo Park · $4.4M – $214M checks · since 2018Silver Lake PartnersMenlo Park · since 2018Tenaya CapitalPalo Alto · $5M – $10M checks · since 2018Village GlobalCovina · $100K – $500K checks · since 2018Workday VenturesSan Francisco · since 2018
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Co-founders at Clari
VR
Venkat RanganExecutive Officer, Director
AB
Andy ByrneExecutive Officer, Director
Experience
- Bain Capital VenturesPartnercurrent2020 — present
- SimileSeries A & B Investorcurrent2025 — present
- CognitionSeries C Investorcurrent2025 — present
- krea.aiSeries B Investor + Board Membercurrent2025 — present
- Charta HealthSeed & Series A Investor + Board Membercurrent2024 — present
- DecagonSeed & Series B investor + Board Membercurrent2023 — present
- EvenUpSeries B & D investor + Board Membercurrent2023 — present
- Sequoia CapitalPartner2012 — 2019
- SymantecVice President, Engineering2011 — 2012
- Clearwell SystemsPresident & CEO2005 — 2011
- CenterRunFounder & CEO2000 — 2003
Skills & more
SaaS48Enterprise Software38C++1Salesforce.com2Software as a Service (SaaS)3Start-ups99Economics2Partner Management3Entrepreneurship70Venture Capital14Thought Leadership2Private Equity4
+12 more
Web DevelopmentMobile ApplicationsBusiness DevelopmentLitigation SupportMergers & AcquisitionsProduct MarketingCRMGo-to-market StrategyStrategic PartnershipsCloud ComputingProduct ManagementProduct DevelopmentFrom Aaref's professional profile.
Investments
Board seats
Per SEC Form D filings.
Colleagues at Bain Capital Ventures
Abby Meyers
Principal at Bain Capital Ventures
Ajay Agarwal
Partner at Bain Capital Ventures
Alysaa Co
Principal at Bain Capital Ventures
Christina Melas-Kyriazi
Partner at Bain Capital Ventures
Enrique Salem
Partner at Bain Capital Ventures
Jamison Hill
Associate at Bain Capital Ventures
Kevin Zhang
Partner at Bain Capital Ventures
Leslie Crowe
Partner at Bain Capital Ventures
Network6
Christina Melas-KyriaziScout
Partner at Bain Capital Ventures
Enrique SalemScout
Partner at Bain Capital Ventures
Elad Gil
Solo general partner investing through Gil Capital
Abby Meyers
Principal at Bain Capital Ventures
Alysaa Co
Principal at Bain Capital Ventures
Andrea Zurek
Partner at XG Ventures
Investors connected to Aaref in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Aaref Hilaly?
- Works with small teams of builders using AI to solve problems previously unaddressed by software. Before joining BCV in 2020, he co-founded two companies and spent seven years as a partner at Sequoia.
- Where does Aaref Hilaly work?
- Aaref Hilaly is Partner at Bain Capital Ventures and Board director at Decagon and Board director at Clari.
- What does Aaref Hilaly invest in?
- Aaref Hilaly invests in AI & Machine Learning, Enterprise Software, Future of Work, SaaS.
- What check size does Aaref Hilaly write?
- Aaref Hilaly typically writes checks of $1M – $100M.
- What boards does Aaref Hilaly sit on?
- Aaref Hilaly holds tracked board seats at Decagon.
- Where did Aaref Hilaly go to school?
- Aaref Hilaly studied at Harvard Business School (MBA); McGill University (MA, Economics); University of Oxford (BA, Philosophy).
Same school
Also attended Harvard Business School2,000
Brad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesTim DraperFounder of Draper AssociatesMamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner PerkinsNeeraj AgrawalGeneral Partner at Battery VenturesHristo BorisovCo-founder & CEO of Payhawk
+ 1,994 more
Also attended McGill University425
Harley FinkelsteinInvestor at Felicis VenturesMattias LjungmanInvestor at Moonfire VenturesNoubar AfeyanInvestor at Flagship PioneeringDavid NaultGeneral Partner at Luge CapitalLaviva MazharPrincipal at Luge CapitalLisa PurcellInvestor at Third Rock Ventures
+ 419 more
Also attended University of Oxford990
Reid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockMichael MoritzFormer Partner at Sequoia Capital; Senior Adviser at Sequoia HeritageBrad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter CapitalGabriel PereyraCo-founder & President of HarveyDominic JacquessonInvestor at Index VenturesErin Price-WrightInvestor at Index Ventures
+ 984 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Simile3
Also worked at Cognition21
Scott WuCo-founder & CEO of CognitionKira BusmanInvestor at Index VenturesSriram KrishnanStartup builder and investorBryan GertzogPartner at StripesRak GargPartner at Bain Capital VenturesChristian LawlessGeneral Partner at Conversion Capital
+ 15 more
