Rick Desai
InvestorPartner at Listen Ventures
Chicago, Illinois
Writes $1M β $10M checks Β· 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.
Invests in
AgTechConsumerDirect to ConsumerEdTechFoodTechHealthtech
Experience
- Listen VenturesManaging Partnercurrent2016 β presentGreater Chicago Area
- Northwestern University - Kellogg School of ManagementAdjunct Professorcurrent2017 β presentEvanston, IL
- DashfireManaging Partner, Co-Foundercurrent2009 β presentChicago, Illinois
- SAATHWilliam J. Clinton Fellow2008 β 2009
- Madison Dearborn PartnersPrivate Equity Associate2006 β 2008
- Lehman BrothersInvestment Banking / Leveraged Finance Analyst2004 β 2006
Education
- Georgetown UniversityBSBA, Finance2000 β 2004
- Detroit Country Day
Skills & more
Private Equity40Investment Banking37Venture Capital32Financial Modeling26
From Rick's professional profile.
Same school
Also attended Georgetown University320
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
+ 314 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Dashfire2
Also worked at Madison Dearborn Partners21
Karishma 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 PartnersKarla J. BullardInvestor at Madison Dearborn Partners
+ 15 more
Also worked at Lehman Brothers198
Scott MaxwellInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersDana SettleCo-Founder & Managing Partner at GreycroftHemal PatelManaging Director at Marlin Equity PartnersYusuf ΓzdalgaPartner, Head of U.K. & Europe at QED InvestorsSaar GurGeneral Partner at CRV (Charles River Ventures)Pam TholenHead of Investor Relations at Paradigm
+ 192 more
Colleagues at Listen Ventures
Amira Khatib
Investor at Listen Ventures
Andrew Kallick
Investor at Listen Ventures
Brentos Fernandez
Partner, Head of Creative at Listen Ventures
Hylton Irons
Associate at Distributed 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
Network1
Investors connected to Rick in public investor directories β a warm-intro map.




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