Anand Chandrasekaran

Anand Chandrasekaran is a highly influential figure in the Indian startup ecosystem, known for his deep product expertise and extensive angel investment portfolio. Before transitioning into venture capital as a Partner at General Catalyst, Chandrasekaran held significant product leadership roles at global tech giants and prominent Indian companies, including Director of Platform Partnerships at Facebook, Chief Product Officer at Bharti Airtel, and Head of Product at Snapdeal. This rich operational background has provided him with a unique vantage point for identifying and nurturing high-potential startups, particularly in the consumer technology, SaaS, fintech, and edtech sectors.

As an active angel investor, Chandrasekaran has built an impressive portfolio, demonstrating a keen eye for disruptive innovation and strong founding teams. He is widely recognized for his early-stage bets on some of India's most successful startups, including Unacademy, Cred, Slice, Darwinbox, NoBroker, and Urban Company. His strategic guidance and operational insights have been invaluable to these companies. Notably, his angel investment portfolio includes over 20 companies that have achieved unicorn status, underscoring his remarkable success rate in identifying future market leaders.

Chandrasekaran's typical first checks as an individual angel investor generally ranged from $50,000 to $250,000, often participating in seed or pre-Series A rounds alongside other prominent angels or early-stage funds. Beyond capital, he is known for providing significant value-add through mentorship, strategic product advice, and leveraging his vast network to help founders navigate growth challenges. His transition to General Catalyst further solidifies his commitment to fostering innovation, where he now leads institutional investments in India and Southeast Asia, continuing to shape the region's burgeoning tech landscape.