About
Ricky Nariani is co-founder and president of WANTD. He previously led M&A and partnerships for IBM's Corporate Development team and held corporate strategy roles involved with the Watson AI platform. He holds an MBA and an undergraduate degree in Finance.
Founder / CEO at WANTDYC W22
Intro paths
YC
Ricky went through Y Combinator (Winter 2022) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
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In turn, Ricky can intro founders to WANTD's investors below.
WANTD's investors · 2
Co-founders at WANTD
QH
Quyen HuaFounder
Experience
- BeginChief Product Officercurrent2026 — presentNew York, New York, United States
- AccuWeatherSVP & General Manager, AI, Enterprise SaaS & Data | Product & Growth2025 — 2026
- Eighty20Consultant & Startup Advisor2024 — 2025New York, United States
- WANTDChief Product & Growth Officer (Founder)2019 — 2024New York, New York, United States
- IBMAssociate Partner, Corporate Development, M&A (AI)2018 — 2022New York City Metropolitan Area
- IBMCorporate Strategy Senior Associate2016 — 2018New York City Metropolitan Area
- Xylem Inc.Sr. Manager, Corporate Strategy2013 — 2016New York City Metropolitan Area
- Murphy OilSenior Regulatory Advisor2011 — 2012Greater Calgary Metropolitan Area
- ShellRegulatory Specialist - Heavy Oil and Natural Gas2008 — 2011
- Suncor EnergyRegulatory Analyst20088 Month contract
Skills & more
Strategic Leadership4Cloud Solutions2AI Commercialization2Market Analysis1Monetization Planning2Synergy OptimizationBlockchain PaymentsSaaS MonetizationAI ApplicationsMarket Entry StrategyDeveloper EngagementRevenue Optimization1
+12 more
Corporate DevelopmentInnovationStartup LeadershipRevenue & Profit GrowthA/B TestingUser RetentionMarket SegmentationCrisis ManagementFinancial StrategyCustomer EngagementProduct DevelopmentSustainability InitiativesLanguages English · French · Hindi · Punjabi · Spanish
From Ricky's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Ricky Nariani?
- Ricky Nariani is co-founder and president of WANTD. He previously led M&A and partnerships for IBM's Corporate Development team and held corporate strategy roles involved with the Watson AI platform. He holds an MBA and an undergraduate degree in Finance.
- Where does Ricky Nariani work?
- Ricky Nariani is Founder / CEO of WANTD.
- What companies did Ricky Nariani found?
- Ricky Nariani founded WANTD.
- Where did Ricky Nariani go to school?
- Ricky Nariani studied at Y Combinator; University of Calgary (Masters, Business Administration (MBA)); The University of Lethbridge (Bachelors, Commerce (Finance).
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,773
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianYC Summer 2005Founded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded HotspotsTrae StephensYC Winter 2022Founded Pursuit +1
+ 8,766 more
Y Combinator mafia4,716
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ryan SheaEntrepreneurshipFounded StacksTarek MansourFounded KalshiSuhail DoshiEating beans & riceFounded Playground +1Subomi OluwalanaW22Founded ConvoyDarius "Bubs" MonsefS19Founded Sightbox +3Matthew ScholzFounded Oisin Biotechnologies +3
+ 4,709 more
University of Calgary mafia16
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Garrett CampBachelor of Science (BSc)Founded Aero +1Wilson ActonLLBFounded Whipcord +1Alice ReimerB. Sc.Founded the51Martin VetterMBAFounded CarrotventuresJim HardinDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)Founded CarrotventuresRob LeclercBachelor of Arts - BAFounded AgFunder
+ 9 more
The University of Lethbridge mafia2
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Y Combinator2,000
Tarek MansourCo-founder & CEO of KalshiSuhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleSubomi OluwalanaCo-founder & CEO of ConvoyMaroof AhmedFounder at Octopus VenturesJustin SwartPartner at Bitkraft Esports VenturesCollin WallaceGeneral Partner at Lobby Capital
+ 1,994 more
Also attended University of Calgary74
Garrett CampCo-founder of Uber and StumbleUpon; founder of ExpaLaura BuhlerPartner, Head of Community at Felicis VenturesLeah GosbeeCFO at Version One VenturesRaghu BhaskarInvestment Manager – Sector Specialist Industrial IT and AI at Emerald Technology Ventures AgChris EricksonFounder at Pangaea Ventures Us Inc.Bryan ChowInvestor at Side Door Ventures
+ 68 more
Also attended The University of Lethbridge8
Lori EllAdvisor at Tall Grass VenturesXavier PétersInvestor at Inventures Investment PartnersRyan JohnsonProduct, Engineering Mgmt Advisor at Vocap PartnersLaurence CarabinObserver (CHU Liège) at White FundChris BuckmanEIR at SFU VentureLabsColin McDonaldInvestor at Empowered Startups Ltd.
+ 2 more
Shared employers
Also worked at AccuWeather3
Also worked at IBM710
Brian ArmstrongCo-founder & CEO of CoinbaseOlivier PomelCo-founder & CEO of DatadogAlexis Le-QuocCo-founder & CTO of DatadogKen ChenaultInvestment Team at General CatalystRoger KrakoffGeneral Partner at Monta Vista CapitalAvi BharadwajInvestment Director at Intel Capital
+ 704 more
Also worked at Xylem Inc.4
Also worked at Shell104
Rob van der MeijPartner at Capricorn Venture PartnersElina HolkkoPartner and CFO at Lifeline VenturesKatie ClasenPartner at Prelude VenturesSamuel MugoyaGeneral Partner Advisor at Beyond Capital VenturesBikram DangInvestor Relations at Group 11Mira InbarPartner at ArcTern Ventures
+ 98 more