Fundraising Fox

Shawn Merani

InvestorFounder

Managing Partner at Parade Ventures · Board director at FlowPath · Board director at Beam Health · Board director at Sonar Software

Los Gatos, California

Writes $1M checks · typically $1M

FoundedBeam HealthFlowPathSonar Software

About

Shawn Merani is Founder and Managing Partner of Parade Ventures, a pre-seed and seed-stage venture capital firm whose Fund I investments include companies such as Sonar, Monograph, Moichor, Northstar, Knapsack, and Prometeo. Previously, he was a co-founder and partner at Flight Ventures, where he invested in early-stage software and internet companies including Cruise Automation, Dollar Shave Club, and Plastiq, and served as a founding partner at Liquidnet's Private Shares marketplace, which grew to over $150 million in gross merchandise value within two years. Merani holds a BA in Economics and BS in Business Administration from UC Berkeley and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management, and serves as faculty at UC Berkeley.

Board director at FlowPath

Intro paths

In turn, Shawn can intro founders to FlowPath's investors below.

Co-founders at FlowPath

GH
Griffin Hart HamiltonDirector
GA
Gregory Alexander CummingsExecutive Officer, Director
BJ
Brandon Jon CummingsExecutive Officer, Director

Board director at Beam Health

Intro paths

In turn, Shawn can intro founders to Beam Health's investors below.

Co-founders at Beam Health

SPSas Ponnapalli
Sas PonnapalliFounder & CEO
RJ
Ranga JayawardenaExecutive Officer

Board director at Sonar Software

Intro paths

In turn, Shawn can intro founders to Sonar Software's investors below.

Co-founders at Sonar Software

BS
Bradley SmithExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
JM
John McGlincheyExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter

Experience

  1. Parade VenturesFounder and Managing Partnercurrent2018 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  2. University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of BusinessLecturercurrent2022 — presentBerkeley, California, United States
  3. University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of BusinessGuest Lecturercurrent2013 — presentBerkeley, CA
  4. Alpha NetworkAdvisory Board Member, Bay Areacurrent2019 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  5. SkyDeck BerkeleyAdvisorcurrent2017 — presentBerkeley, CA
  6. RunaAdvisorcurrent2017 — presentMexico City Metropolitan Area
  7. Music Audience ExchangeAdvisorcurrent2015 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  8. Flight VenturesCo-founder and Partnercurrent2014 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  9. STRATIMAdvisor2014 — 2018San Francisco Bay Area
  10. LiquidnetFounder, Private Shares Marketplace2012 — 2013Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
  11. ReachLocalSenior Director Business Development2008 — 2012Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
  12. ReachLocalSenior Director Corporate Development2008 — 2012Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
  13. ReachLocalBusiness Development Intern2008
  14. Riordan, Lewis & HadenIndependent Consultant2009
  15. UCLAUndergraduate Teaching Assistant2008 — 2009
  16. SavvianInvestment Banking Professional2005 — 2007San Francisco Bay Area
  17. HSBCExperienced Associate2003 — 2005
  18. WTASExperienced Associate2003 — 2005
  19. JP Morgan ChaseRetail & Middle Market Financial Services Intern2002
  20. Merrill LynchFinancial Advisor Intern1999San Jose, CA

Education

  1. University of California, BerkeleyBA, Economics1998 — 2002
  2. UCLA Anderson School of ManagementMBA, Business Administration2007 — 2009
  3. University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of BusinessBS, Business Administration1998 — 2002
  4. Cupertino High School1994 — 1998

Skills & more

Venture Capital11Entrepreneurship64Business Development44Corporate Development14Strategic Partnerships14Investment Banking2Finance7Marketing7M&A experiencePrivate PlacementsPrivate Equity3Social Media2
+12 moreCloud ComputingStart-upsEarly Stage InvestmentFundraisingDigital MediaOnline AdvertisingProduct ManagementFinancial ModelingSaaSStrategic PlanningAnalysisInternet

From Shawn's professional profile.

Deals · 4

Beam HealthBoard seat

via Parade Ventures · filed Jul 2025 · $2.2M raise

KnapsackBoard seat

via Parade Ventures · filed Aug 2023 · $7.5M raise

FlowPathBoard seat

via Parade Ventures · filed Sep 2021 · $1.3M raise

Sonar SoftwareBoard seat

via Parade Ventures · filed Mar 2020 · $1.7M raise

Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.

Colleagues at Parade Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Where does Shawn Merani work?
Shawn Merani is Managing Partner at Parade Ventures and Founder at FlowPath and Founder at Beam Health and Founder at Sonar Software.
What check size does Shawn Merani write?
Shawn Merani typically writes checks of $1M.
What companies did Shawn Merani found?
Shawn Merani founded Beam Health, FlowPath, Sonar Software.

Same school

Shared employers