Kiran Potula

Kiran Potula

INVESTMENT ANALYST

Kiran supports the investment sourcing functions at the firm and targets startups, primarily on the East Coast, where he is based, that fit Sierra’s investment thesis. He also is tasked with research into new industries that could be ready for disruption. He also works on developing Sierra’s network of partner VCs on the East Coast and providing support for our CXO Advisory Board activities.Prior to Sierra, Kiran worked at Thinknum, an early stage ‘Data as a Service’ startup. His time at Thinknum was spent developing and growing its private equity and venture capital pipeline and clients. He also worked at Ai8 Ventures, a micro VC based out of San Francisco. At Ai8, he wore many hats, helping with deal sourcing, operations, and investor relations.Kiran holds a B.S in Mathematics and Economics from the University of California, San Diego.Outside of work, he enjoys camping, drawing, and playing outdoor sports like frisbee and volleyball.

Areas of Expertise

  • Investor Relations
  • Corporate Finance & Accounting Practices
  • Process Improvement
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Contract Negotiation & Strategic Planning
  • International Operations
  • Change Management
  • Strategic Partnerships

Team Thoughts

What is your favorite part about working with portfolio companies/entrepreneurs?
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Best learning as a founder?
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How do you view your role with portfolio companies?
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I view myself as an extension of the team. I hope to be the first call that founders make when they are facing a challenge because they trust that no matter what, we will work together to get to the right outcome. It is also nice to get the first call when celebrating big milestones.

Best learning as a founder?
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