Rajesh Swaminathan
InvestorFounderInvestor at Khosla Ventures · Board director at Verdagy · Board director at Redox Blox · Board director at Li Industries
San Francisco Bay Area
Writes $100K – $50M checks · typically $25M
About
Partner at Khosla Ventures focused on deep-tech investments spanning renewables, industrial decarbonization, advanced manufacturing, critical minerals, compute infrastructure, and their convergence with AI. Previously led Applied Ventures, the venture arm of Applied Materials, and worked at Third Point Ventures and Lucent's Bell Labs; holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an engineering degree from IIT Madras.
Beyond investing
- Education
- Studied at Harvard Business School (MBA) Studied at University of Maryland (graduate studies) Studied at IIT Madras (undergraduate degree, engineering)
- Awards
- Rajesh Swaminathan was awarded the President of India Medal for overall excellence at IIT Madras.
From Rajesh's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Board director at Verdagy
Intro paths
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In turn, Rajesh can intro founders to Verdagy's investors below.
Verdagy's investors · 5
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Co-founders at Verdagy
RG
Ryan GilliamDirector
Board director at Redox Blox
Intro paths
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In turn, Rajesh can intro founders to Redox Blox's investors below.
Redox Blox's investors · 3
Co-founders at Redox Blox
DA
DANE A BOYSENExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
AB
Alessandro BoFounder
KR
Kelvin RandhirFounder
Board director at Li Industries
Intro paths
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In turn, Rajesh can intro founders to Li Industries's investors below.
Li Industries's investors · 11
Bosch VenturesStuttgart · $27M checks · since 2024Chevron Technology VenturesHouston · since 2024Dnx VenturesTokyo · $1M – $5M checks · since 2024Khosla VenturesMenlo Park · $5K – $50M checks · since 2024LG Technology VenturesSanta Clara · since 2024Myriad Venture Partnerssince 2024Myriad VenturesBoston · since 2024Robert Bosch Venture CapitalStuttgart · $1.6M – $27M checks · since 2024Shell VenturesLondon · since 2024TechEnergy VenturesBuenos Aires · since 2024Xerox VenturesNew York · since 2024
Co-founders at Li Industries
ZL
Zheng LiMr. Li is the Chief Executive Officer of the Issuer.
DL
Dr. LiFounder & primary inventor
Experience
- Khosla VenturesPartnercurrent2020 — presentMenlo Park, CA
- Applied VenturesHead of Applied Ventures2018 — 2020Santa Clara, California
- Applied VenturesInvestment Director2015 — 2018San Francisco Bay Area
- Applied VenturesInvestment Manager2009 — 2015San Francisco Bay Area
- Third Point VenturesSr Associate2008 — 2009San Francisco Bay Area
- Khosla VenturesConsultant2007 — 2008
- Deutsche BankInvestment Banking2007
- Nokia Bell LabsLead - Emerging Technologies2001 — 2006
Education
- Harvard Business SchoolMaster of Business Administration (MBA), MBA2006 — 2008
- University of MarylandMS, Electronics/MEMS Reliability1999 — 2001
- Indian Institute of Technology, MadrasB.Tech, Chemical Engineering1995 — 1999
Skills & more
Start-ups36Cleantech26Semiconductors18Solar Energy10Venture Capital20Product Development8Nanotechnology6Manufacturing6Renewable Energy5Business Strategy10Mergers & Acquisitions10Advanced Materials1
+1 more
GenomicsFrom Rajesh's professional profile.
Deals · 5
Genecis Bioindustries Inc.Board seat
via Khosla Ventures · filed Jun 2025 · $750K raise
Li IndustriesBoard seat
via Khosla Ventures · filed May 2024 · $42.3M raise
VerdagyBoard seat
via Khosla Ventures · filed Aug 2023 · $35.5M raise
Apton Biosystems, Inc.Board seat
via Khosla Ventures · filed Apr 2021 · $24.8M raise
ONTERA INC.Board seat
via Khosla Ventures · filed Aug 2020 · $24.8M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Board seats
Per SEC Form D filings.
Colleagues at Khosla Ventures
Adina Tecklu
Investor at Khosla Ventures
Adrian Radu
Investor at Khosla Ventures
Alex Morgan
Investor at Khosla Ventures
Alice Brooks
Investor at Khosla Ventures
Amy Kalokerinos
Investor at Khosla Ventures
Anne Foor
Investor at Khosla Ventures
Austin Hay
Investor at Khosla Ventures
Avisha Mehra Naganath
Investor at Khosla Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Rajesh Swaminathan?
- Partner at Khosla Ventures focused on deep-tech investments spanning renewables, industrial decarbonization, advanced manufacturing, critical minerals, compute infrastructure, and their convergence with AI. Previously led Applied Ventures, the venture arm of Applied Materials, and worked at Third Point Ventures and Lucent's Bell Labs; holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an engineering degree from IIT Madras.
- Where does Rajesh Swaminathan work?
- Rajesh Swaminathan is Investor at Khosla Ventures and Board director at Verdagy and Board director at Redox Blox and Board director at Li Industries.
- What check size does Rajesh Swaminathan write?
- Rajesh Swaminathan typically writes checks of $100K – $50M.
- What boards does Rajesh Swaminathan sit on?
- Rajesh Swaminathan holds tracked board seats at Apton Biosystems, Inc., Genecis Bioindustries Inc., Li Industries, Nitricity, ONTERA INC., Redox Blox, Verdagy.
- Where did Rajesh Swaminathan go to school?
- Rajesh Swaminathan studied at Harvard Business School (Master of Business Administration (MBA), MBA); University of Maryland (MS, Electronics/MEMS Reliability); Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (B.Tech, Chemical Engineering).
- What awards has Rajesh Swaminathan received?
- Rajesh Swaminathan was awarded the President of India Medal for overall excellence at IIT Madras.
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