About
Leela Najafi joined Candou Ventures as an Associate in 2024, where she works on firm operations and processes and supports partners on projects including portfolio company support and partnership development. Before joining the firm, she served in a senior leadership role in the U.S. Senate as Nominations Director for Senate leadership and founded nonprofit organizations focused on removing financial barriers for underserved communities. She earlier held internships with the Senate Finance Committee and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and holds a B.A. in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government from American University's School of Public Affairs.
Contact· self-published, not guessed
Experience
- CognichipSenior Manager, GTMcurrent2026 — presentRedwood City, CA
- CognichipManager, GTM2025 — 2026Redwood City, CA
- CognichipGTM MBA Intern2025Redwood City, CA
- Courtyard VenturesVenture Partner2024 — 2025Berkeley, California, United States
- Candou VenturesAssociate2024Palo Alto, California, United States
- United States SenateNominations Director, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer2021 — 2023
- United States SenateResearch Assistant, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer2020 — 2021
- United States SenatePress Assistant, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer2019 — 2020
- United States Senate Committee on FinancePress Intern, Democratic Staff2019District of Columbia, United States
- Federal Reserve Bank of San FranciscoCommunications Intern2019
- CQ and Roll CallLegislative Research Intern2018Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental AffairsDigital Press Intern2017Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- Blue Future + the Youth Progressive Action CatalystCo-Founder2017Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- Office of Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA)Intern2016Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Skills & more
Community Outreach12Social Networking10Event Planning14Research17Marketing8Customer Service4Public PolicyLegislative Research1Social MediaFundraising1EditingMicrosoft Word5
+12 more
Microsoft OfficePowerPointMicrosoft ExcelFacebookMicrosoft PowerPointexcelPublic SpeakingLeadershipStrategic PlanningManagementWritingCommunicationLanguages English · Persian
From Leela's professional profile.
Colleagues at Candou Ventures
Faraj Aalaei
Founding General Partner at Candou Ventures
Faraj Aalaei
Founder at Cognichip
Laleh Masnavi
Operating Partner at Candou Ventures
Linda Reddick
CFO at Candou Ventures
Mehdi Maghsoodnia
Venture Partner at Candou Ventures
Nader Vasseghi
Venture Partner at Candou Ventures
Sallee Hartbeck
Administrative Lead at Candou Ventures
Shahin Hedayat
Founding General Partner at Candou Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Leela Najafi?
- Leela Najafi joined Candou Ventures as an Associate in 2024, where she works on firm operations and processes and supports partners on projects including portfolio company support and partnership development. Before joining the firm, she served in a senior leadership role in the U.S. Senate as Nominations Director for Senate leadership and founded nonprofit organizations focused on removing financial barriers for underserved communities. She earlier held internships with the Senate Finance Committee and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and holds a B.A. in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government from American University's School of Public Affairs.
- Where does Leela Najafi work?
- Leela Najafi is Associate at Candou Ventures.
- Where did Leela Najafi go to school?
- Leela Najafi studied at University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business (Master of Business Administration - MBA); American University (Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Communications).
Same school
Also attended University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business616
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Also attended American University79
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Shared employers
Also worked at Cognichip4
Also worked at Candou Ventures6
Also worked at United States Senate100
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