Vivek Ladsariya, a veteran investor from Silicon Valley, recently joined Pioneer Square Labs (PSL) in Seattle as a managing director. He brings seven years of experience investing in enterprise technology startups at SineWave Ventures, as well as co-founding a gaming startup. Ladsariya was drawn to the quality of the PSL leadership team and the technical talent in the Pacific Northwest, leading him to make the move from the Bay Area to Seattle. He will be working with PSL Ventures, which recently raised a $100 million fund to support tech startups in the region, as well as with PSL Studio, which creates early-stage companies.
Ladsariya’s investing style is described as technically driven, with a focus on startups that build enterprise software infrastructure, an area where Seattle tech companies excel. During his time at SineWave Ventures, he led investments in companies like DataBricks, Rescale, Ocaro, and Evolv Technologies. He is particularly interested in companies that are focused on creating real automation rather than just flashy intelligence. Ladsariya and his wife recently moved to Seattle and find the city and its residents to be warm, welcoming, and friendly.
PSL, founded in 2015, has raised a total of $180 million for its venture fund and nearly $50 million to support its startup studio, which has spun out over 35 companies including Boundless, Recurrent, and SingleFile. Earlier this year, PSL partnered with Silicon Valley venture capital firm Mayfield to fund AI-focused startups. Ben Gilbert, co-founder of PSL, recently stepped back from his managing director role to focus on his podcast, Acquired, while other managing directors include Greg Gottesman, Julie Sandler, Geoff Entress, and T.A. McCann. Ladsariya’s addition to the team brings fresh Bay Area talent to Seattle’s venture capital ecosystem.
With a background in India, undergraduate studies at the University of Mumbai, and an MBA from Yale, Ladsariya brings a diverse perspective to the Seattle tech scene. His move to Seattle reflects the growing reputation of the city as a hub for innovation and investment, drawing in experienced investors like Ladsariya from other tech hotspots such as Silicon Valley. His excitement for the quality of technical talent in the Pacific Northwest and the opportunity to work with PSL in investing in and supporting tech startups in the region made the decision to relocate a “no-brainer.”
Overall, Ladsariya’s focus on technically driven investments, particularly in enterprise software infrastructure and real automation in AI, aligns well with the strengths of Seattle’s tech community. His move to Seattle and involvement with PSL Ventures and Studio demonstrate the continued growth and vibrancy of the city’s venture capital ecosystem. With the support of PSL’s leadership team and existing partnerships, Ladsariya is poised to make a significant impact on the region’s startup scene and contribute to the ongoing success and innovation of the Pacific Northwest tech industry.
