Celesta Capital, a leading deep tech investment firm, has announced the appointment of Anand Chandrasekaran as a Managing Partner. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Chandrasekaran brings a wealth of experience in technology, entrepreneurship, and investment that will enhance Celesta’s strategic direction.

Career Highlights

Prior to joining Celesta, Chandrasekaran served as a Partner at General Catalyst, where he played a pivotal role in identifying and scaling transformative startups. His tenure at General Catalyst was marked by significant contributions to early-stage investments, particularly in the Indian and American markets. He has also held leadership positions at prominent companies such as Meta, Five9, Bharti Airtel, and Snapdeal.

• Meta: As Director of the Messenger Platform, he was instrumental in developing features that enhanced user engagement.
• Five9: As Executive Vice President of Products, he contributed to the company’s growth, which added $10 billion in market value since 2019.
• Bharti Airtel: As Chief Product Officer, he helped shape the mobile operator’s product strategy for its 300 million subscribers.
• Snapdeal: He served as Chief Product Officer at one of India’s leading e-commerce platforms.

Chandrasekaran is also known for his entrepreneurial spirit; he co-founded Aeroprise Inc., which was acquired by BMC Software. His extensive experience includes building five products that collectively grew to over 10 million users, with one product surpassing 1 billion users.

Vision for Celesta Capital

“I’m thrilled to join the talented team at Celesta Capital,” said Chandrasekaran. “Their passion for backing deep tech innovation aligns perfectly with my own. I look forward to contributing to the firm’s mission and fostering the growth of groundbreaking startups.” His addition to Celesta Capital’s team further strengthens the firm’s position as a leading investor in deep tech.

Impact on Celesta Capital

Chandrasekaran’s extensive network and insights into the tech landscape will be invaluable in identifying and nurturing promising startups. His background in both product development and venture capital positions him uniquely to bridge the gap between innovative ideas and market realities.

Founded in 2013, Celesta Capital has a strong track record of investing in early-stage deep tech companies across various sectors, including hardware, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence (AI). The firm aims to accelerate its growth and expand its investment portfolio under Chandrasekaran’s leadership.

Educational Background

Anand holds an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and a B.S. in Communications Engineering from PSG College of Technology in India. His accomplishments have been recognized globally; he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2010 and featured in Fortune’s ‘40 under 40’ list in 2017.

Conclusion

Anand Chandrasekaran’s appointment as Managing Partner at Celesta Capital marks a significant milestone for both him and the firm. With his wealth of experience and commitment to fostering innovation, he is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of deep tech investments. As Celesta Capital continues to support transformative startups, Chandrasekaran’s leadership is expected to drive impactful changes within the industry.