Rahul Mehta

Rahul Mehta is a highly influential figure in the global venture capital ecosystem, primarily recognized as a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at DST Global. Alongside Yuri Milner, he has been instrumental in shaping DST Global's distinctive investment strategy, which focuses on late-stage growth investments in internet and technology companies worldwide. The firm is renowned for its 'founder-friendly' approach, often taking significant minority stakes without seeking board seats, a strategy that has proven highly attractive to entrepreneurs building category-defining businesses.

DST Global's investment philosophy centers on identifying and backing high-growth, established technology companies that have already achieved substantial traction and market leadership. Their extensive portfolio includes some of the world's most successful tech giants, such as Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, Airbnb, and Alibaba, among many others. This strategic focus allows DST Global to deploy substantial capital into proven business models, aiming for significant returns on exit rather than early-stage development risks.

In terms of capital deployment, DST Global typically deploys substantial sums, with initial investments often ranging from approximately $50 million up to $500 million or more for major late-stage rounds. For instance, the firm famously participated in a $1.2 billion round for Facebook in 2009 and a $200 million round for Airbnb in 2011. These large-scale investments underscore DST Global's capacity and preference for significant capital deployment into mature, high-potential companies. Mehta's role has been critical in identifying and executing these large-scale investments, contributing significantly to DST Global's reputation as a top-tier global tech investor.