Fundraising Fox

Pooja S

Investor

Associate at Avanta Ventures

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Writes $1M – $5M checks · typically $2M

Find your path to Pooja

759 people in our graph share verified history with Pooja — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Tsendai ChagwederaunlockedPooja: together at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2009–2011)
×4Pooja: together at Barclays
×5Pooja: together at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
×2Pooja: together at General Motors

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

  1. CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA InsurerAI Product & Strategy Leadcurrent2025 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
  2. Self-employedVenture & Strategy Consultantcurrent2024 — present
  3. Doyenne GroupBoard Member, Presidentcurrent2021 — present
  4. CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA InsurerVC Investor, Avanta Ventures2021 — 2024
  5. SageSureSenior Innovation Manager2020 — 2021
  6. Self-employedIndependent Consultant2019 — 2020
  7. gener8torManaging Director, OnRamp Insurance Accelerator2019Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
  8. QBE InsuranceAVP | VC Investor | Co-Founding Member, QBE Ventures2017 — 2019Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, United States
  9. QBE InsuranceDigital Innovation Lab Intern2016 — 2017Sun Prairie, WI
  10. University of Wisconsin-MadisonGraduate Teaching Assistant2016 — 2017Madison, WI
  11. Barclays CapitalInvestment Banking Analyst, Healthcare2012 — 2015New York
  12. Team CoBolt (Product Engineering Processes)System Integrator & Team Leader2011MIT
  13. General MotorsManufacturing Engineering Intern2011Lake Orion, MI
  14. Electronic Theatre ControlsR&D Intern2010Middleton, WI
  15. Electronic Theatre ControlsGreen IT Intern2008Middleton, WI

Skills & more

Problem SolvingInterpersonal SkillsCritical ThinkingAnalysis1StrategyLeadership2Public SpeakingInvestor RelationsStatistics2Capital MarketsFinancial Analysis1Financial Modeling1
+12 moreProject ManagementResearchFinanceData AnalysisEngineeringAgile MethodologiesStart-upsDue DiligenceCorporate Venture CapitalVenture CapitalWhite Space AnalysisNew Business Opportunities

Languages English · French · Gujarati · Hindi · Japanese

  • Series 63 — FINRA
  • Series 52 — FINRA
  • Series 7 — FINRA

From Pooja's professional profile.

Colleagues at Avanta Ventures

Sanjiv Parikh
Managing Partner at Avanta Ventures
Steve Bernardez
Investor at Avanta Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Who is Pooja S?
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.
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.
Where did Pooja S go to school?
Pooja S studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Bachelor of Science (BS), Mechanical Engineering); University of Wisconsin-Madison (Master’s Degree, Manufacturing Systems Engineering).

Same school

Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology2,000

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 CatalystPhilippe LaffontFounder & CIO of Coatue ManagementNat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDG

+ 1,994 more

Also attended University of Wisconsin-Madison504

Zhenyu TangInvestment Director at Intel CapitalDougAdvisor at Clear VenturesDan RuchPartner at Rho VenturesJoe HayesInvestor at LightbankGeorge RobertsInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersBret L. BostwickMD, FAAP, FACMG, Venture Advisor at Breyer Capital

+ 498 more

Shared employers

Also worked at CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA Insurer5

Yvette BrightBrighter Horizon Foundation at Empactful CapitalDebora TomlinAdvisor at Blumberg CapitalSanjiv ParikhManaging Partner at Avanta VenturesLeland HolcombInvestor at Patamar CapitalFran MaierFounder at Baby Quip

Also worked at Doyenne Group2

Nhi LêPrincipal at Alpha Intelligence CapitalKanika JainAssociate at HealthQuad

Also worked at gener8tor35

Jenni LePrincipal at Clarevia VenturesVictor Pascucci IIIManaging General Partner, Cofounder at Energy Capital VenturesMegan BanieckeAssociate at Homegrown CapitalErika WhiteSenior Marketing and Platform Associate at American Family VenturesTristan PollockI build movements and ecosystems, not just companies.Michael YoonTechnology Operating Partner at RueOne Investments

+ 29 more

Also worked at QBE Insurance13

Natasha RamosAdministrative Team at TSG Consumer PartnersJenna LindbeckSenior Associate at Roc PartnersJohn FitzgeraldPresident at Transverse VenturesJJ JacksonChief Financial Officer at Future Now CapitalThomas VoCEO - Sapien Vietnam at Sapien Ventures / Sapien GroupLucas WongAssociate at Adamantem Capital

+ 7 more