Fundraising Fox

Rahul Meka

Investor

Principal at Playground Global · Principal at Playground Global

San Francisco Bay Area

About

Rahul Meka joined Playground Global in 2023, where he invests in deep tech spanning decarbonization, automation, and AI. He previously worked at Magna International on electrification, mobility autonomy, manufacturing, and robotics, and later at Akasha Imaging (acquired by Intrinsic, an Alphabet company), working on computational imaging. He holds an MBA in Finance and Strategy from the University of Chicago, an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University, and a B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Science.

LinkedIn ↗

Invests in

AI & Machine LearningBiotechClimate TechDeep TechHardwareRoboticsSemiconductors

Experience

  1. Playground GlobalPrincipalcurrent2025 — presentPalo Alto, California, United States
  2. Playground GlobalVenture Investor2023 — 2025Palo Alto, California, United States
  3. Alva EnergyBoard Observercurrent2025 — present
  4. Vertical SemiconductorBoard Observercurrent2025 — present
  5. Sizable EnergyBoard Observercurrent2024 — present
  6. GigaCropBoard Observercurrent2024 — present
  7. Ideon TechnologiesBoard Observercurrent2024 — present
  8. Element ZeroBoard Observercurrent2025 — present
  9. Agility RoboticsBoard Observercurrent2023 — present
  10. Ayar LabsBoard Observer2024 — 2026
  11. IntrinsicProduct2022 — 2023Mountain View, California, United States
  12. Akasha ImagingHead of Product2021 — 2022Palo Alto, California, United States
  13. Magna InternationalManager, Product and R&D2020 — 2021Detroit Metropolitan Area
  14. Magna InternationalInvestor, Corporate VC Arm2017 — 2021Detroit Metropolitan Area
  15. Magna InternationalResearch Engineer2015 — 2017Detroit Metropolitan Area
  16. Neotribe VenturesInvestment Research2021

Education

  1. The University of Chicago Booth School of BusinessMaster of Business Administration, Finance
  2. Columbia UniversityMaster's Degree, Mechanical Engineering
  3. Birla Institute Of Technology and Science, Pilani DubaiBachelor's Degree, Mechanical Engineering

Skills & more

Matlab19Microsoft Excel11C8C++8PowerPoint15Microsoft Office20AutoCAD9Microsoft Word11Research18Business Strategy14Engineering17Mechanical Engineering5
+12 moreEntrepreneurshipBusiness DevelopmentData AnalysisTechnical AnalysisFinancial AnalysisStatisticsMarket AnalysisBig DataEditingProgrammingAnalysisStrategy

Languages English · French · Hindi · Telugu

From Rahul's professional profile.

Same school

Also attended The University of Chicago Booth School of Business431

Prashant ShahPartner at Monta Vista CapitalNoorPartner at Clear VenturesTinaInvestments & Portfolio Services Team Member at Clear VenturesBill PescatelloInvestor at LightbankGlebFounder and Managing Partner at iTech CapitalRavi RajamonyVice President at March Capital Partners

+ 425 more

Also attended Columbia University498

Ben HorowitzCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen HorowitzDoug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzGabriella GiglioHR & Executive Talent at General CatalystScott BillerInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Erica VanInvestment Director at Intel Capital

+ 492 more

Also attended Birla Institute Of Technology and Science, Pilani Dubai1

Aditya Kumar PeriBoehringer Ingelheim at i3 — Investing in Innovation Africa

Shared employers

Also worked at Alva Energy2

Pat GelsingerGeneral Partner at Playground GlobalRoxanne TullyPrincipal at Piva Capital

Also worked at Vertical Semiconductor1

Pat GelsingerGeneral Partner at Playground Global

Also worked at Agility Robotics8

Karthee MadasamyManaging Partner at MFV PartnersStacie McCarthyExecutive Assistant at Standard CryptoVictor Bunoust-RoquerePrincipal at Manhattan Venture PartnersChris MoehleInvestor at The Robotics HubStephen RodriguezOperating Partner at DCVC (Data Collective)Badri NarasimhanInvestor at Buoyant Ventures Management, Llc

+ 2 more

Also worked at Akasha Imaging1

RameshPrincipal Scientist at Rebellion Ventures

Colleagues at Playground Global

Andy Rubin
Managing Partner at Playground Global
Angela Lin
Executive Assistant at Playground Global
Austin Yu
Investor at Playground Global
Benjamin Kim
Partner at Playground Global
Brian Burton
Investor at Playground Global
Bruce Leak
General Partner at Playground Global
Caroline Little
Director Government Affairs at Playground Global
Chika Nakasu
Executive Manager at Playground Global