Vivek Ladsariya, a veteran investor from Silicon Valley, has recently relocated to Seattle to join Pioneer Square Labs (PSL) as a managing director. With seven years of experience investing in enterprise technology startups at SineWave Ventures, Ladsariya was drawn to the quality of the PSL leadership team and the technical talent in the Pacific Northwest. His primary focus will be helping PSL invest out of its Ventures arm, which raised a $100 million fund in 2021 to back more startups in the region. He will also be involved with PSL Studio, which spins out early-stage companies.
Ladsariya is known for his technically driven investing style and is particularly excited about startups building enterprise software infrastructure, a strong suit of Seattle tech companies. During his time at SineWave, he led investments in companies such as DataBricks, Rescale, Ocaro, and Evolv Technologies. He is specifically interested in companies focused on real automation rather than just flashy AI intelligence. Ladsariya, along with his wife and two dogs, recently moved to Seattle and settled in the Queen Anne neighborhood, citing the beauty of Seattle and the welcoming nature of its residents.
Founded in 2015, Pioneer Square Labs has raised $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. In a recent development, PSL announced a partnership with Silicon Valley venture capital firm Mayfield to fund AI-focused startups. In addition to Ladsariya, the managing directors at PSL include Greg Gottesman, Julie Sandler, Geoff Entress, and T.A. McCann. Ben Gilbert, a co-founder of PSL, transitioned away from his managing director role to focus on his podcast, Acquired.
Having grown up in India and completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Mumbai, Ladsariya went on to earn an MBA from Yale before embarking on his career in venture capital. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Seattle ecosystem and is excited about the prospects for investing in the region. With a focus on enterprise software infrastructure and real automation, Ladsariya’s move to Seattle signals a shift in the venture capital landscape, bringing fresh Bay Area talent to the Pacific Northwest. As he settles into his new role at PSL, Ladsariya looks forward to contributing to the growth and success of the tech startup ecosystem in Seattle.
