Sekhar Puli
Managing General Partner at Aroa Venture Partners
Leading Series A and B investments in Indian deeptech, AI, and sustainability through Aroa Venture Partners.
Intro
I'm Sekhar Puli, the Managing General Partner at Aroa Venture Partners. My career has been defined by building and scaling mission-critical technology businesses, from founding REAN Cloud and securing nearly a billion dollars in DoD contracts to leading global PE-backed firms like ArchLynk. Today, I focus on empowering the next generation of Indian founders in the DeepTech, AI, and Sustainability sectors. I’m passionate about providing 'patient capital'—the kind that comes with real operational infrastructure and access to US Fortune 500 networks. Beyond the boardroom, I’m deeply committed to social responsibility through my non-profit, Asha-Jyothi, and I’m always looking to connect with technically distinguished founders who are ready to make bold bets on the future of global progress.
Networking
What I can offer
- ›US Enterprise Access to Fortune 500 C-suite relationships
- ›Hands-on M&A counsel
- ›Operational infrastructure for scaling startups
- ›Strategic guidance for global expansion
What I'm looking for
- ›Technically distinguished founders in India
- ›Startups in AI, Healthcare, and Sustainability looking to scale globally
- ›exploring mutual opportunities in venture capital and deeptech
Best fit for
Focus
Current interests
Core competencies
Background
Career
Started as a software developer and founder of Sabre Integrated Solutions, transitioned to executive leadership at Amdocs, co-founded and exited REAN Cloud, served as Global CEO of ArchLynk, and now leads a SEBI-registered venture capital fund.
Education
MBA in International Business from Georgetown University; MS in Computer Science from George Mason University; PGDCA in Management from Ecole Lemania; BS in Mechanical Engineering from Andhra University.
Achievements
- ›Secured a $950 million Department of Defense cloud services contract
- ›Led REAN Cloud to acquisition by Hitachi Vantara
- ›Manages a portfolio of 50+ companies including 5 unicorns
- ›Negotiated a $350 million contract renewal with a major U.S. telecom
- ›Conferred the title 'Lord of Fairfax County' for philanthropic innovation
Opinions
- Investors should engage as practitioners rather than observers
- AI and DeepTech are the primary drivers of future global progress
- Founders need patient capital and operational infrastructure, not just money
- There is a seismic shift in Indian demographics requiring reliable caregiving for the elderly
Personality
Communication style
Professional, encouraging, and authoritative; structured and polished with a mentor-like warmth.
Formality — 8/10
Vocabulary