Fundraising Fox

Saalim Chowdhury

Investor

Managing Director at Techstars London 2016

London

Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M

About

Saalim Chowdhury is a former founder with two exits to Cisco and Toptal who has spent a decade at partner level with accelerators Techstars London and 500 Startups, working directly with over 300 startups across more than 30 countries on growth strategy, unit economics, and fundraising. His angel portfolio includes Nothing, Axie Infinity, Quit Genius, Plum, and other early-stage companies, with a focus on founder-market fit and businesses addressing underestimated customer segments. He currently serves as a Senior Advisor at ETFuels and holds board advisory positions across multiple portfolio and independent companies.

Experience

  1. ETFuelsSenior Advisorcurrent2024 — present
  2. NothingAngel Investorcurrent2020 — present
  3. Axie InfinityAngel Investor / Mentorcurrent2019 — present
  4. Quit GeniusAngel Investorcurrent2017 — present
  5. Angel InvestorAngel Investor - Underestimated customer segmentscurrent2017 — present
  6. TechstarsManaging Director2021 — 2024
  7. 500 StartupsPartner2016 — 2020London, United Kingdom
  8. Skillbridge (acquired by Toptal)CTO & Co-Founder of Skillbridge2013 — 2016
  9. Reach plcHead of Digital Strategy2012 — 2014
  10. Freelance ConsultingPrincipal Consultant2010 — 2014
  11. News CorpGM / Head of Digital, NIFN2007 — 2010
  12. ScanSafe, Inc (acquired by Cisco)Product Manager2005 — 2007
  13. The Boston Consulting GroupAssociate2004 — 2005

Education

  1. University of CambridgeBA (Hons), Psychology
  2. The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)MSc, Statistics & Research Methods
  3. Stanford UniversityCertificate (Executive Education), Venture Capital
  4. University of OxfordDiploma, Computer Science
  5. Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNYKnight Foundation & Leonard Tow Foundation Fellowship, Entrepreneurial Journalism

Skills & more

Growth Strategy & GTMEarly-Stage Company OperationsFounder Development & MentoringVenture Capital & Angel InvestingFundraising & Capital AllocationExpert AdvisorExecutive AdvisoryDecision-MakingStart-upsDigital MediaData ScienceDigital Strategy
+12 moreEntrepreneurshipProduct DevelopmentJournalismBusiness StrategyNew Business DevelopmentMobile DevicesDigital MarketingE-commerceProduct ManagementVenture CapitalMobileStrategy
  • AI Essentials — General Purpose: AI training that actually works

From Saalim's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Saalim Chowdhury work?
Saalim Chowdhury is Managing Director at Techstars London 2016.
What check size does Saalim Chowdhury write?
Saalim Chowdhury typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.

Same school

Also attended University of Cambridge852

Niko BonatsosInvestment Team at General CatalystGeorgia StevensonInvestor at Index VenturesHannah SealInvestor at Index VenturesLeah von SiemensPartner at Manta Ray VenturesAnthony PhilippakisInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Erik NordlanderInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)

+ 846 more

Also attended Stanford University2,000

Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundReid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockDavid SacksCo-founder & General Partner at Craft Ventures; PCAST co-chair; former White House AI & crypto czarKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia Capital

+ 1,994 more

Also attended University of Oxford950

Reid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockMichael MoritzFormer Partner at Sequoia Capital; Senior Adviser at Sequoia HeritageBrad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter Capital; architect of Invest America; BG2 co-hostDominic JacquessonInvestor at Index VenturesErin Price-WrightInvestor at Index VenturesJan HammerInvestor at Index Ventures

+ 944 more

Also attended Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY1

Chase RifkinVP, Talent at CAVU Consumer Partners

Shared employers

Also worked at Quit Genius10

Maroof AhmedFounder at Octopus VenturesYusuf SherwaniCo-Founder and CEO at Pelago; a Londoner living in New York CityRyan EngelFounder & Managing Partner at Cade VenturesWill GibbsPartner at Octopus VenturesBen BlumePartner at AtomicoSeb WallacePartner at Triple Point Ventures

+ 4 more

Also worked at Techstars426

Brad FeldCo-founder of Foundry and TechstarsRustyAdvisor at Clear VenturesHouman HaghighiPartner, Business & Corporate Development at Menlo VenturesIsabelle StyslingerSenior Associate, Rise of the Rest at RevolutionWesley BarrowPartner at Correlation VenturesJack Bixby LucasGeneral Partner at Lucas Venture Group

+ 420 more

Also worked at 500 Startups134

Kaz TeradaVenture Advisor at Monta Vista CapitalChristal NgAssociate at Golden Gate VenturesDemi ObayomiPrincipal at Sapphire VenturesGbenga AjayiPartner, Head of Africa and Middle East at QED InvestorsJustin LedbetterChief Operating Officer, Marlan Space at Cortado VenturesJessica KohSenior Executive Director, Investment at Vertex Ventures Sea Management Pte. Ltd.

+ 128 more

Also worked at Skillbridge (acquired by Toptal)16

Kathryn MooreSenior Associate at LiveOak VenturesRandi JakubowitzManaging Director, Head of Operations & Talent at 645 VenturesJosh ChapmanCo-Founder and Managing Partner at Konvoy VenturesBrittany HooseVice President of Operations at Serac VenturesTomas LivoraHead of Engineering Labs at RockawayXWally CouncilBusiness Unit Executive, Data, AI and Automation, IBM at The Yield Lab Asia Pacific

+ 10 more