Vishal Verma
Vishal Verma is an American venture capitalist and entrepreneur who serves as Managing Partner of Edgewood Ventures and General Partner of Redwood Collective. He is the co-founder and former CFO of Hindustan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (HSMC), which secured a $2.2 billion contract from the Government of India.[1] Verma is also a member of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Leadership Council and founder of the Sidebar Summit networking organization.[2]
Early life and education
Verma earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Santa Clara University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.[1][3]
Career
Early career
Verma began his career at Loral Corporation, where he worked under the Vice President of Asia Pacific and was responsible for creating and managing relationships with Loral's customers in the Pacific Rim region.[4]
Entrepreneurial ventures
During his MBA studies, Verma co-founded Hyde Park Angels to promote entrepreneurship in the Chicago area.[5] He subsequently co-founded several technology companies, including Akroria Networks (where he served as President and COO), Geotouch, and PointCross.[1]
Venture capital
In interviews, Verma has discussed his investment philosophy and approach to risk: "We wanted to take more risk, and that's where the returns were. We knew the deal: high risk, high reward, or zero. And we were okay with that. We also wanted to stay on the cutting edge."[6]
Major business ventures
Edgewood Ventures
Since 2002, Verma has served as Managing Partner of Edgewood Ventures, a single family office based in Silicon Valley.[7] The family-owned organization manages private wealth and family affairs, serving as limited partners (LPs) in venture funds, public market investments, and direct investments.[8] The partners at Edgewood have developed a track record in creating innovative products and successful ventures.[8]
Redwood Collective
Verma serves as General Partner of Redwood Collective, LLC, which focuses on late-stage venture capital investments across technology, IT, and healthcare sectors.[6] The organization implements aggressive risk mitigation strategies while maximizing returns by investing in top-tier Silicon Valley-based venture capital firms with a focus on later-stage companies to ensure shorter exit timelines.[9] Redwood Collective also maintains co-investment rights in later-stage companies and emphasizes funds across multiple vintages, with selection criteria including proprietary deal flow, entrepreneur networks, and general partners with strong track records.[9]
HSMC
In the early 2000s, Verma co-founded Hindustan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (HSMC) and served as its CFO. The company was awarded a $2.2 billion contract package from the Government of India, making it one of the largest technology deals between India and the United States at the time.[1][3]
Edgewood Networks
Verma was involved in establishing Edgewood Networks, a joint venture between Juniper Networks and Edgewood Ventures focused on developing secure and trusted networking products for the global market.[1]
Sidebar Summit
Verma founded Sidebar Summit, an organization that leverages connectivity within the technology ecosystem to bring together leaders in technology, entrepreneurship, venture capital, academia, and government.[10] The organization's mission is to "curate exceptional events that connect and empower the world's most innovative and influential individuals" through networking events, roundtable discussions, and intimate gatherings designed for decision makers, visionaries, and rising talent.[10]
Sidebar Summit events attract a diverse range of professionals, from startups to seasoned industry leaders, professional athletes, and government officials, all focused on advancing their communities and the future of technology. The organization envisions serving as a catalyst for positive change and inspiring new thinking that can shape the future of society.[10] The organization has hosted events in partnership with major firms including Foley & Lardner and 8VC.[11]
Media appearances and recognition
Verma has been featured in numerous media outlets discussing venture capital and technology trends. Notable appearances include:
- NYSE TV interview alongside Kraken Co-CEO Arjun Sethi[12]
- Two-part interview series with American Bazaar discussing AI market trends and investment strategy[6][13]
- Exclusive interview with New India Abroad on Silicon Valley's startup ecosystem[14]
He has served as a panelist at industry conferences, including the Association for Corporate Growth Silicon Valley Mid-Year Capital Outlook alongside executives from BNY Mellon and Needham & Company.[15]
Advisory roles and board positions
Verma serves in several advisory capacities:
- Senior General Partner at The Chertoff Group[1]
- Strategic partnership with Gephardt Government Affairs[16]
- Board member of various portfolio companies including Darwin Ventures and Westly Group[3]
- Silicon Valley Impact podcast episode alongside Vrinda Agarwal[17]
Civic and professional involvement
Non-profit leadership
Verma serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations:
- University of California, Merced (Board of Trustees and Directors)
- One Economy, Washington D.C. (Board of Directors)[1]
Professional organizations
Verma is a member of several prestigious organizations:
- Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Leadership Council (alongside Bill Clinton, Caroline Kennedy, and Desmond Tutu)[2]
- Society of Fellows at the Aspen Institute
- US India Cyber-security Track 1.5 Dialogue (hosted by Council on Foreign Relations and Observer Research Foundation)
- The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE)
- Chicago Private Equity Networks[3]
CyberIndia.org
Verma founded CyberIndia.org, an organization focused on enabling innovation, education, and enhanced cyber readiness while connecting the cyber ecosystem.[16]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Vishal Verma". The Chertoff Group. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Vishal Verma Joins Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Leadership Council". Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Vishal Verma Profile". MarketScreener. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ↑ "Management Team". HSMC. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ↑ "Built In Chicago Podcast" (Podcast). Built In. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "From family office to fund of funds: Vishal Verma on investing with access, patience, and a global perspective". American Bazaar. 2025-06-25. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ↑ "Vishal Verma - Edgewood Ventures". The Org. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "About Us". Edgewood Ventures. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "About Us". Redwood Collective. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ↑ "Sidebar Summit – New York Tech Week". Foley & Lardner. 2024-06-01. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ↑ "Vishal Verma, of Edgewood Partners and Arjun Sethi, Co-CEO of Kraken Join Live". NYSE TV. 2025-01-01. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ↑ "'We're drowning in capital' — Why Silicon Valley's AI frenzy was inevitable, according to Vishal Verma". American Bazaar. 2025-06-28. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ↑ "Vishal Verma of Redwood Collective speaks on Silicon Valley's startup and venture ecosystem". New India Abroad. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ↑ "ACG Silicon Valley - Mid-Year Capital Outlook 2024". Association for Corporate Growth. 2024-01-01. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Vishal Verma". Gephardt Government Affairs. 2016-12-01. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ↑ "Silicon Valley Impact S1 E24 with Vishal Verma and Vrinda Agarwal" (Podcast). Amazon Music. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
External links
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