Former deep-tech founder with experience in startups and consulting. Co-founded a semiconductor startup, raised $10M+, and led operations and product development. Advise startups on fundraising, investor positioning, and technical direction, and support VC and PE firms with due diligence on AI, semiconductors, and other emerging technologies.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

*   Consulted across AI, semiconductors, biotech, and venture investment, focusing on technical strategy, AI
*   prototyping, and investor positioning.
*   Advised AI chip design startup to negotiate with software vendor instead of pursuing costly in-house
*   simulator development, preventing a 6-month detour and $100K in unnecessary expenses.
*   Developed software for AI startups, including an AI-based browser extension for productivity tracking
*   and a PDF text extraction pipeline to generate training data.
*   Enhanced biotech startup’s investor pitch and strategic positioning, directly contributing to successful seed round completion.
*   Scouted two investments in biotech and robotics for VC fund, and advised PE fund on landscape for silicon photonics in AI hardware.

Independent Consultant

*   Advised governments and investors on special economic zone (SEZ) policy and investment strategy,
*   facilitating partnerships to attract capital, businesses, and remote workers.
*   Secured formal engagement through MOUs with Moroccan and Saudi Arabian governments, establishing working groups to explore SEZ development.
*   Built compelling investment case by aggregating relocation commitments from startup founders, demonstrating market demand to government stakeholders.
*   Established framework for future infrastructure development through strategic LOIs with four construction and tech firms.
*   Strengthened government and investor presentations by leading collaboration with Zaha Hadid Architects, developing city concepts that conveyed project vision.

Strategy and Research

*   Built and scaled a deep-tech AI hardware startup, leading fundraising, hiring, and operations.
*   Raised $10M in pre-seed and seed rounds.
*   Recruited and onboarded a world-class technical leadership team, including the CEO and CTO.
*   Validated market opportunity through securing three LOIs from potential customers following strategic pivot from encryption to AI acceleration.
*   Led successful completion of first prototype chip from design to production with pre-seed funding, delivering tangible proof of concept for investors that helped secure seed round.

Chief Operations Officer

Nikhil Kunapuli

English

Risk Management

Financial Analysis

Consulting

Business Analysis

Change Management

Process Improvement

Project Management

Python

Strategy

Communication

Problem Solving

Negotiation

Leadership

Machine Learning

Fundraising

Strategy consulting

Relationship Building

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial neural networks

Operations Management

Pytorch

Time Management Skills

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills (data driven)

Strategic planning skills

Documentation/Reporting

Financial model building skills

Product innovation

Transformation

Conflict Resolution

Management

Stress Management

Time management

Driven and self-motivated

Interpersonal Skills

creativity

Organization

Prioritizing skills

Networking

Teamwork

Creative problem solver

Adaptability

Problem-Solving

Problem Solving Skills

Detail Oriented and Organized

Verbal and Written Communication

Multi tasker

Decision-making

Nikhil Kunapuli

#1 Video-Talent Marketplace

Ready to discover your perfect career?