Pooja S
InvestorAssociate at Avanta Ventures
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Writes $1M – $5M checks · typically $2M
About
Pooja S leads AI product and strategy at CSAA Insurance Group. She is a venture capital investor focused on early-stage companies in AI, insurtech, enterprise technology, and climate tech, with experience spanning deal sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio support. Her background includes technical expertise in AI applications, automation, and software-driven solutions.
Experience
- CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA InsurerAI Product & Strategy Leadcurrent2025 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
- Self-employedVenture & Strategy Consultantcurrent2024 — present
- Doyenne GroupBoard Member, Presidentcurrent2021 — present
- CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA InsurerVC Investor, Avanta Ventures2021 — 2024
- SageSureSenior Innovation Manager2020 — 2021
- Self-employedIndependent Consultant2019 — 2020
- gener8torManaging Director, OnRamp Insurance Accelerator2019Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
- QBE InsuranceAVP | VC Investor | Co-Founding Member, QBE Ventures2017 — 2019Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, United States
- QBE InsuranceDigital Innovation Lab Intern2016 — 2017Sun Prairie, WI
- University of Wisconsin-MadisonGraduate Teaching Assistant2016 — 2017Madison, WI
- Barclays CapitalInvestment Banking Analyst, Healthcare2012 — 2015New York
- Team CoBolt (Product Engineering Processes)System Integrator & Team Leader2011MIT
- General MotorsManufacturing Engineering Intern2011Lake Orion, MI
- Electronic Theatre ControlsR&D Intern2010Middleton, WI
- Electronic Theatre ControlsGreen IT Intern2008Middleton, WI
Education
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyBachelor of Science (BS), Mechanical Engineering2009 — 2012
- University of Wisconsin-MadisonMaster’s Degree, Manufacturing Systems Engineering2015 — 2017
Skills & more
Problem SolvingInterpersonal SkillsCritical ThinkingAnalysis1StrategyLeadership2Public SpeakingInvestor RelationsStatistics2Capital MarketsFinancial Analysis1Financial Modeling1
+12 more
Project ManagementResearchFinanceData AnalysisEngineeringAgile MethodologiesStart-upsDue DiligenceCorporate Venture CapitalVenture CapitalWhite Space AnalysisNew Business OpportunitiesLanguages English · French · Gujarati · Hindi · Japanese
- Series 63 — FINRA
- Series 52 — FINRA
- Series 7 — FINRA
From Pooja's professional profile.
Colleagues at Avanta Ventures
Network1
Investors connected to Pooja in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Pooja S work?
- Pooja S is Associate at Avanta Ventures.
- What check size does Pooja S write?
- Pooja S typically writes checks of $1M – $5M.
Same school
Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology1,280
Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square VenturesElad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesHemant TanejaCEO & Managing Director of General CatalystNat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDGBrad FeldCo-founder of Foundry and Techstars
+ 1,274 more
Also attended University of Wisconsin-Madison240
Zhenyu TangInvestment Director at Intel CapitalDougAdvisor at Clear VenturesDan RuchPartner at Rho VenturesGeorge RobertsInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersKevin WenzelAssociate at Marlin Equity PartnersHelen LiangFounder & General Partner at FoundersX Ventures
+ 234 more
Shared employers
Also worked at CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA Insurer4
Also worked at Doyenne Group2
Also worked at gener8tor20
Victor Pascucci IIIManaging General Partner, Cofounder at Energy Capital VenturesErika WhiteSenior Marketing and Platform Associate at American Family VenturesTristan PollockInvestor at NZVCMichael YoonTechnology Operating Partner at RueOne InvestmentsLogan WhiteAnalyst at Elevate VenturesCaroline McManusInvestor at Hyde Park Venture Partners
+ 14 more
