Fundraising Fox

Shashank Deshpande

Investor

Managing Partner at Pentathlon Ventures

Pune, India

Writes $25K – $100K checks · typically $50K

Find your path to Shashank

87 people in our graph share verified history with Shashank — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

John DillonunlockedShashank: together at Symantec Corp (2006–2007)
×4Shashank: together at Globant
×5Shashank: together at Pentathlon Ventures
×2Shashank: together at Symantec Corp

About

Shashank Deshpande is a co-founder of Pentathlon Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Pune, India, that backs seed and pre-Series A B2B SaaS and AI-enabled startups. He was one of a group of entrepreneurs and industry veterans — with prior experience at companies including Globant, Clarice, and Veritas — who launched the firm in 2020. Pentathlon focuses on founders solving B2B problems in areas such as Enterprise AI Transformation, HealthTech, FinTech, Cybersecurity, and Logistics/Manufacturing, typically investing $500k to $1 million in companies with early customer validation and at least $200k in ARR. The firm launched a Rs 450 Crore Fund II in 2023 after backing 23 startups through its first fund.

Beyond investing

Founded
Co-founded Pentathlon Ventures in 2020 as part of a group of entrepreneurs and industry veterans.
More
Has prior work experience at Globant, Clarice, and Veritas.

Mentioned above: the Globant mafia →

From Shashank's own website — common ground for a warm intro.

Experience

  1. CubytsCo-Founder & Chief Business Officercurrent2022 — presentPune, Maharashtra, India
  2. Pentathlon VenturesManaging Partnercurrent2020 — presentPune, India
  3. GlobantChief Design Officer - Asia2015 — 2019Pune Area, India
  4. GlobantCo-Founder & President2008 — 2015
  5. Human Factors InternationalChief of Technical Staff2007 — 2008Mumbai, Maharashtra
  6. Symantec CorpSr. Manager - User Centered Design1998 — 2007
  7. Quipus DesignFounder/Partner1992 — 1998
  8. Crompton GreavesCAD Engineer1988 — 1989Nashik, Maharashtra

Skills & more

Design Thinking6Enterprise Software22Design Management17User Experience99Product Management31Usability Engineering74Interaction Design47User-centered Design99Design Strategy6Heuristic Evaluation3User Interface Design99User Interface45
+12 moreUsability TestingExperience DesignMobile ApplicationsUser Experience DesignInformation ArchitectureUsabilityProduct DesignUser ResearchRapid PrototypingEthnographyWire FramingHuman Computer Interaction

From Shashank's professional profile.

Colleagues at Pentathlon Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Who is Shashank Deshpande?
Shashank Deshpande is a co-founder of Pentathlon Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Pune, India, that backs seed and pre-Series A B2B SaaS and AI-enabled startups. He was one of a group of entrepreneurs and industry veterans — with prior experience at companies including Globant, Clarice, and Veritas — who launched the firm in 2020. Pentathlon focuses on founders solving B2B problems in areas such as Enterprise AI Transformation, HealthTech, FinTech, Cybersecurity, and Logistics/Manufacturing, typically investing $500k to $1 million in companies with early customer validation and at least $200k in ARR. The firm launched a Rs 450 Crore Fund II in 2023 after backing 23 startups through its first fund.
Where does Shashank Deshpande work?
Shashank Deshpande is Managing Partner at Pentathlon Ventures.
What check size does Shashank Deshpande write?
Shashank Deshpande typically writes checks of $25K – $100K.
Where did Shashank Deshpande go to school?
Shashank Deshpande studied at National Institute of Design (PG Diploma in Industrial Design, Industrial Design); Doctor Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering).

Founder mafias

Same school

Shared employers