Fundraising Fox

Rick Desai

Investor

Partner at Listen Ventures · Board director at OnyxMP Growthco · Board director at Own Up · Board director at Dame Products

Chicago, Illinois

Writes $1M – $10M checks · typically $1M

About

Former founder who built and sold FanGo to Grubhub, Rick Desai brings a hands-on operator perspective and conducts ethnographic consumer diligence: 26+ hours of interviews plus kitchen and in-store observations.

Contact· self-published, not guessed

Invests in

AgTechConsumerDirect to ConsumerEdTechFoodTechHealthtech

Board director at OnyxMP Growthco

Intro paths

→

In turn, Rick can intro founders to OnyxMP Growthco's investors below.

OnyxMP Growthco's investors · 1

Listen VenturesChicago · $1M – $10M checks · since 2024

Board director at Own Up

Intro paths

→

In turn, Rick can intro founders to Own Up's investors below.

Own Up's investors · 5

Brand Foundry VenturesAustin · $500K – $1.5M checks · since 2022LaunchCapitalBranford · $50K – $150K checks · since 2022Link VenturesCambridge · $1M – $8M checks · since 2022Listen VenturesChicago · $1M – $10M checks · since 2022TechstarsBoulder · $220K checks · since 2022

Co-founders at Own Up

PBPatrick Boyaggi
Patrick BoyaggiCo-founder & CEO
MTMike Tassone
Mike TassoneCo-founder & COO
BSBrent Shields
Brent ShieldsCo-founder & CTO
MT
Michael TassoneExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter

Board director at Dame Products

Intro paths

→

In turn, Rick can intro founders to Dame Products's investors below.

Dame Products's investors · 5

Assembled BrandsCalifornia · since 2020Chingona VenturesChicago · $250K – $2M checks · since 2020igniteXL VenturePalo Alto · $100K – $500K checks · since 2020Joyance PartnersBerlin · since 2020Listen VenturesChicago · $1M – $10M checks · since 2020

Co-founders at Dame Products

AF
Alexandra FineCo-founder
JL
Janet LiebermanCo-founder

Experience

  1. Listen VenturesManaging Partnercurrent2016 — presentGreater Chicago Area
  2. Northwestern University - Kellogg School of ManagementAdjunct Professorcurrent2017 — presentEvanston, IL
  3. DashfireManaging Partner, Co-Foundercurrent2009 — presentChicago, Illinois
  4. SAATHWilliam J. Clinton Fellow2008 — 2009
  5. Madison Dearborn PartnersPrivate Equity Associate2006 — 2008
  6. Lehman BrothersInvestment Banking / Leveraged Finance Analyst2004 — 2006

Skills & more

Private Equity40Investment Banking37Venture Capital32Financial Modeling26

From Rick's professional profile.

Colleagues at Listen Ventures

Brentos Fernandez
Partner, Head of Creative at Listen Ventures
Jeff Cantalupo
Managing Partner, Founder at Listen Ventures
Johnnie Yu
Associate at Listen Ventures
Kimmie Carey
Principal at Listen Ventures
Kofi Amoo-Gottfried
Venture Partner at Listen Ventures
Mike Apostal
Venture Partner at Listen Ventures
Shawn Dennis
Venture Partner at Listen Ventures

Network1

Diane Hessan
Special Advisor at Data Point Capital

Investors connected to Rick in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Rick Desai?
Former founder who built and sold FanGo to Grubhub, Rick Desai brings a hands-on operator perspective and conducts ethnographic consumer diligence: 26+ hours of interviews plus kitchen and in-store observations.
Where does Rick Desai work?
Rick Desai is Partner at Listen Ventures and Board director at OnyxMP Growthco and Board director at Own Up and Board director at Dame Products.
What does Rick Desai invest in?
Rick Desai invests in AgTech, Consumer, Direct to Consumer, EdTech, FoodTech, Healthtech.
What check size does Rick Desai write?
Rick Desai typically writes checks of $1M – $10M.
Where did Rick Desai go to school?
Rick Desai studied at Georgetown University (BSBA, Finance); Detroit Country Day.

Same school

Also attended Georgetown University404

Trae StephensPartner at Founders Fund and co-founder of AndurilLuciana LixandruPartner at Sequoia CapitalKatherine BoyleGeneral Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (American Dynamism)Tobi CokerDeal Partner at Felicis VenturesAna AndreescuInvestor at Index VenturesTed LeonsisFounder & Partner, Revolution Growth at Revolution

+ 398 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management50

Karthik ChakkarapaniInvestor at Foundation CapitalEduardo BeffermannVenture Partner at Fen VenturesAlex WearnVenture Partner at Polymorphic CapitalJoe KaiserSenior Investment Advisor at Mercato PartnersMike BrennanBoard Member, Advisor, COO at SUPPLY CHANGE CAPITALAlena MarovitzInvestor at SUPPLY CHANGE CAPITAL

+ 44 more

Also worked at Dashfire1

MikeVenture Advisor at Ranch Ventures

Also worked at Madison Dearborn Partners22

Vivek K. PattipatiPartner at Valor Equity PartnersKarishma AhujaInvestor at Madison Dearborn PartnersLarry O. BakerInvestor at Madison Dearborn PartnersBrendan T. BarrettInvestor at Madison Dearborn PartnersElizabeth Q. BettenInvestor at Madison Dearborn PartnersKatherine M. BryanInvestor at Madison Dearborn Partners

+ 16 more

Also worked at Lehman Brothers253

John ZimmerCo-founder of LyftNik StoronskyCo-founder & CEO of RevolutScott MaxwellInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersHemal PatelManaging Director at Marlin Equity PartnersYusuf ÖzdalgaPartner, Head of U.K. & Europe at QED InvestorsSaar GurGeneral Partner at CRV (Charles River Ventures)

+ 247 more