About
A serial founder and tech executive named on 10 patents, having founded companies including Pipal Systems (acquired by Riverstone Networks), ChargePoint, and 2predict. He has held SVP of R&D or CTO roles at Riverstone, Lucent, and SGI, and is currently CTO at Volta.
Experience
- JoulesAICo-founder and CEOcurrent2025 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- MIT Media LabResearch Affliatecurrent2022 — present
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)MIT Connection Science Fellowcurrent2014 — present
- Various StartupsFractional CTO / CPTO2022 — 2025
- Volta ChargingChief Technology Officer2019 — 2022
- 2predict [acquired by Volta]CEO & Co-founder2018 — 2021
- Illinois Institute of TechnologyAdvisory Board Member for Electrical and Computer Engineering Department2014 — 2015
- SGISVP of Engineering / SVP & GM, Emerging Technologies2011 — 2014
- ChargePointCo-founder & President2007 — 2011
- Lucent TechnologiesVP of R&D, Carrier Ethernet Solutions2006
- Riverstone Networks [acquired by Lucent]VP of Engineering2003 — 2006
- Pipal Systems [acquired by Riverstone]Co-founder & CEO2001 — 2003
- ZeitNet Systems, Global Internet, Redback NetworksLead (Formative Stage) Software Engineer1989 — 2000
Education
- Santa Clara UniversityBachelor's Degree, Computer Engineering1985 — 1989
Colleagues at Starship Ventures
Bharat Mediratta
Advisor at Starship Ventures
David Holz
Founder and CEO at Starship Ventures
Georges Sudarskis
Advisor at Starship Ventures
Hugo Peterson
COO & GP at Starship Ventures
Moses Moody
Venture Partner at Starship Ventures
Nick David
Venture Partner at Starship Ventures
Peter Sayn-Wittgenstein
Founder and CEO at Starship Ventures
Ryan Reynolds
Finance & Operations at Starship Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Praveen Mandal work?
- Praveen Mandal is Advisor at Starship Ventures.
Founder mafias
Santa Clara University mafia33
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Rasmus AreskougComputer Science & Engineering ManagementFounded ParaglideGeorge ManuelianBachelor's degreeFounded RapidFortJim HickmanMBAFounded CenterforyouthwellnessGregory EatonAnthropologyFounded Reach SecurityJose Miguel HerreroMSEECSFounded Big Sur VenturesAllison KopfPhysicsFounded TRACT
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+ 26 more
Starship Ventures mafia2
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Santa Clara University142
Viviana FagaGeneral Partner at Felicis VenturesKirsten MelloPartner + Chief Financial Officer at Menlo VenturesRasmus AreskougInvestor at DN CapitalJohn TorreyVenture Partner at Madrona Venture GroupSarah LucasManaging General Partner at Lucas Venture GroupBob GenchiCIO/CISO at Scale Venture Partners
+ 136 more
Shared employers
Also worked at MIT Media Lab97
Wesley ChanInvestor at Felicis VenturesDr. Catherine HavasiAdvisor at AI CapitalWill JackInvestor at Alsop Louie PartnersArjan SchütteFounder & Managing Partner at Core Venture CapitalKevin TuPartner at DFJAbdulrahman TarabzouniFounder & CEO at STV
+ 91 more
Also worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)442
Aileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesMatt HuangCo-founder and Managing Partner at ParadigmScott BillerInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Noubar AfeyanInvestor at Flagship PioneeringVyas RamananVenture Partner at Third Rock VenturesRhie LimPartner, Global Strategy at One Way Ventures
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+ 436 more
Also worked at Volta Charging7
John ToughCo-Founder & Managing Partner, Member of Investment Committee at Energize VenturesJuan MuldoonPartner — Co-Head of Ventures at Energize VenturesTyler LancasterPartner — Co-Head of Ventures at Energize VenturesJay ChongManaging Partner at Millennium New HorizonsAndrew KauPartner at Walden CatalystBonita StewartInvestor at Black Angel Group
+ 1 more
