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Rishi Taparia

Rishi Taparia

Co-founder at Garuda Ventures, seasoned tech executive and investor

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Orinda, California
Joined January 2026
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Summary

Rishi Taparia is a seasoned tech executive, operator, and investor with over 15 years of experience in strategy, operations, and finance. He has a proven track record of scaling companies from early stages, notably as VP of Business Operations at Poynt (acquired by GoDaddy for $365M) and SVP at Legion Technologies, where he helped raise significant capital and launch new products. His expertise spans operational leadership in high-growth tech environments and strategic investment in venture capital. garuda+2
As Co-Founder and General Partner at Garuda Ventures, Rishi is a pre-seed and seed investor focused on B2B software companies across intelligent applications (AI-enhanced applications, vertical SaaS), commerce infrastructure, cloud-native security, and climate tech. He co-led the firm's $31 million debut institutional fund, demonstrating a strong commitment to backing ambitious founders as their 'first true believer'. garuda+4
Rishi Taparia contributes to the academic community as an Adjunct Lecturer and Member of the Faculty at both Northwestern University's Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, where he teaches New Venture Finance. This role reflects his commitment to fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs and sharing his practical industry experience in a structured learning environment. rocketreach+1
Beyond investing, Rishi is a thought leader who actively shares his insights on startup building, early-stage investing, and the impact of AI through his Substack newsletter 'Taps' Notes' and the 'Brick by Brick' podcast. He focuses on the unglamorous, foundational work of startups and the critical role of early employees, emphasizing the importance of team building and market understanding. substack+3
Rishi is a globally-minded individual with a diverse background, having grown up in Indonesia as a Canadian citizen of Indian origin before moving to the US for his undergraduate studies at Northwestern University. He is also a dedicated family man, living in Orinda, CA, with his wife and two children, and actively involved in coaching his son's kindergarten basketball team. rishitaparia+1

Work

Education

Projects

Writing

How to Win in the AI Era

September 16, 2025

A blog post summarizing interviews on the VC10X podcast and Alchemist Accelerator, discussing the startup ecosystem, AI adoption in the market, and the future impact of AI, particularly on B2B SaaS.

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The Hardest Sale A Founder Will Make

July 31, 2025

A blog post discussing the challenges of recruiting great early employees for startups, emphasizing the need to convince not just the candidate but also their support system.

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My Next Chapter

January 7, 2020

A blog post on his personal website announcing his transition to Legion Technologies, detailing his passion for technology as an equalizer and his role in enabling the future of work for hourly employees.

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Taps' Notes

Rishi's personal Substack newsletter where he shares insights on early-stage startup investing, weekly tidbits from around the web, and stories of influential people in his life.

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Hobbies

Coaches his five-year-old son's kindergarten basketball team and enjoys playing basketball, fulfilling a childhood dream. venturecapitaljournal

Enjoys reading, primarily using a Kindle, and uses his Substack to review books and share his thoughts on various topics. rishitaparia+1

Spends time with family and friends, valuing these relationships highly. venturecapitaljournal

Possesses a two-foot by 16-inch replica T-rex skull, initially a gift for his dinosaur-obsessed son. venturecapitaljournal

Notes

TKThejo Kotesaid they've seen
RTRishi Taparia
make a significant impact in university-level finance education or research.

Oct 24, 2025