Shankar Chandran
InvestorPartner at Walden Catalyst
San Francisco, California, United States
Writes $550K checks
About
Shankar Chandran is a former Applied Materials engineer and primary inventor on eight patents with 19+ years investing in deep-tech—semiconductors, AI infrastructure, data, robotics—and co-headed Samsung’s strategic investment arm.
Contact· published on Shankar's own website
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningBiotechData & InfrastructureDeep TechHardwareSemiconductors
Experience
- Walden Catalyst VenturesPartnercurrent2021 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- Nace AIBoard Membercurrent2025 — present
- Virtue AIBoard Membercurrent2025 — present
- Ati MotorsBoard Membercurrent2024 — present
- 3D Glass Solutions, Inc.Board Membercurrent2023 — present
- GalileoBoard Membercurrent2022 — present
- Samsung Catalyst FundManaging Director, SVP & Co-Head of Samsung Catalyst Fund (SCF)2013 — 2021
- Panorama Capital / JP Morgan PartnersPartner2002 — 2013Menlo Park, CA
- Applied MaterialsEngineer / Manager1995 — 2000
Skills & more
Disruptive Technologies6Competitive Intelligence6Venture Capital79Corporate Development31Strategic Partnerships40Start-ups48Product Management18Investments19Entrepreneurship28Mobile Devices10Business Development4Mergers & Acquisitions9
+8 more
Product DevelopmentProduct MarketingBusiness StrategyCross-functional Team LeadershipGo-to-market StrategyCloud ComputingStrategyManagementFrom Shankar's professional profile.
Investments
Board seats
3DgsAti MotorsGalileoMindsDBNace.AIOPAQUEVirtueAI
Per the firm's website.
Colleagues at Walden Catalyst
Amandine Rouillard
Global Marketing & Operations Director at Walden Catalyst
Andrew Kau
Partner at Walden Catalyst
Francis Ho
Partner at Walden Catalyst
Harriet Hamblin
Vice President, London at Northzone
Lip-Bu Tan
Founding Managing Partner at Celesta Capital
Nicolas Autret
Partner at Walden Catalyst
Roni Hefetz
Partner at Walden Catalyst
Teresa Smith
Chief Financial Officer at Walden Catalyst
Network2
Investors connected to Shankar in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Shankar Chandran?
- Shankar Chandran is a former Applied Materials engineer and primary inventor on eight patents with 19+ years investing in deep-tech—semiconductors, AI infrastructure, data, robotics—and co-headed Samsung’s strategic investment arm.
- Where does Shankar Chandran work?
- Shankar Chandran is Partner at Walden Catalyst.
- What does Shankar Chandran invest in?
- Shankar Chandran invests in AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Data & Infrastructure, Deep Tech, Hardware, Semiconductors.
- What check size does Shankar Chandran write?
- Shankar Chandran typically writes checks of $550K.
- What boards does Shankar Chandran sit on?
- Shankar Chandran holds tracked board seats at 3Dgs, Ati Motors, Galileo, MindsDB, Nace.AI, OPAQUE, VirtueAI.
- Where did Shankar Chandran go to school?
- Shankar Chandran studied at The Wharton School (MBA); Arizona State University (MS, Materials Science & Engineering); Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi (B.Tech, Engineering).
Same school
Also attended The Wharton School1,557
Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square VenturesSarah GuoFounder & General Partner of ConvictionJosh KopelmanFounder and Partner at First Round CapitalAydin SenkutFounder & Managing Partner at FelicisKunal BahlCo-founder of Snapdeal; co-founder of Titan CapitalJack AbrahamFounder, CEO & Managing Partner of Atomic
+ 1,551 more
Also attended Arizona State University106
Suhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleJackson HeddyCFO at NorthzoneOliver MitchellPartner at Ff Venture CapitalJorge CampoInvestor at KfundMax AltschulerFounder & General Partner at GTMfundJen FettermanInvestor Relations Coordinator at Stripes
+ 100 more
Also attended Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi20
Saurabh LahotiFounding Partner at Pentathlon VenturesMohan KumarInvestor at Pentathlon VenturesDilip JamesSenior Advisor at Elevar EquityShirish SathayePartner at Cervin VenturesHarpinder SinghPartner at Innovation EndeavorsRajendra KetkarPrincipal Consultant, RDK Global Consulting LLC at The Yield Lab Asia Pacific
+ 14 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Nace AI1
Also worked at Virtue AI7
Marc A. SingerManaging Partner at Osage University PartnersAjay RayasamPrincipal at Osage University PartnersGuru ChahalPartner at Lightspeed Venture PartnersAbhishek ShuklaManaging Director at Prosperity7 VenturesDaisy GarciaSr. Investment Associate at Prosperity7 VenturesJames AlcornPartner at Zetta Venture Partners
+ 1 more












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