Varsha Rao

Varsha Rao serves as an Executive Partner at Flare Capital Partners, a leading venture capital firm specializing in healthcare technology investments. Based in San Francisco, Flare Capital leverages its deep industry expertise to identify and nurture innovative companies poised to transform the healthcare landscape. Rao brings a wealth of operational experience to her role, having held significant leadership positions at high-growth technology companies across various sectors, including digital health, consumer tech, and hospitality. Her background provides a unique vantage point for evaluating the operational scalability and market potential of prospective portfolio companies.

At Flare Capital Partners, Rao is integral to the firm's strategy of investing in early-stage and growth-stage healthcare technology companies. The firm typically deploys initial investments ranging from $5 million to $20 million, targeting Seed, Series A, and Series B rounds. This strategic focus allows Flare Capital to support companies from their foundational stages through significant growth milestones. Her involvement extends beyond capital deployment, encompassing strategic guidance, operational mentorship, and network leveraging for portfolio companies, aligning with Flare's hands-on approach to venture capital.

Rao's extensive executive career, including her tenure as CEO of Nurx, COO of Clover Health, and Head of Global Operations at Airbnb, underscores her deep understanding of scaling complex technology businesses. This operational acumen is a critical asset in her investment role, enabling her to assess management teams and guide companies through critical growth phases. Flare Capital Partners has demonstrated significant fundraising success, with its most recent fund, Flare Capital Partners IV, closing at $350 million in 2022. This follows the successful close of Flare Capital Partners III at $255 million in 2019, reflecting the firm's robust capital base and continued commitment to the healthcare technology sector. Her contributions help solidify Flare's position as a key player in advancing healthcare innovation.