Nikesh Parekh
Nikesh Parekh is currently AI Expert & Start-up Mentor at AI2 Incubator, CEO and Co-founder at Provn, and Innovation Advisor / Supply Chain Advisory Board Member at University of Washington. He founded Provn, which is still running, and previously served as CEO at ActiveRain, which was acquired by Market Leader, and CEO & Board of Directors at Bio Architecture Lab, which raised $35m in financing. His expertise includes AI, entrepreneurship, commercializing innovation, and incubating technology companies.
From Microsoft Exit to Building the NFL Draft for AI Talent
Send us Fan Mail Serial entrepreneur Nikesh (Niki) Parekh joins us to share lessons from building Suplari, an AI-powered procurement intelligence company acquired by Microsoft in 2021, and his newest venture, Provn. Niki takes us behind the scenes of Suplari—from validating the idea with customers and finding product-market fit to scaling enterprise sales, navigating setbacks, and ultimately selling the company to Microsoft. He also shares what he would do differently and offers practical lessons for founders building enterprise software. We then explore Provn, which Niki describes as the “NFL Draft for AI talent.” Instead of relying on resumes, prestigious universities…
Tech Community Mourns S. 'Soma' Somasegar, Microsoft Veteran and Madrona VC, at Age 59
S. 'Soma' Somasegar, a respected Microsoft veteran and Madrona Ventures investor, passed away at age 59, prompting widespread tributes highlighting his kindness, mentorship, and lasting impact on the tech community. Colleagues remembered him as a humble servant leader and champion of developers whose legacy went beyond his business contributions.
Microsoft GM Nikesh Parekh Advises SaaS VP on Evaluating Stock Value and Career Priorities at Slow-Growth Company
Nikesh Parekh, a Microsoft general manager and former startup founder, advises a VP of engineering at a slow-growing SaaS company to assess the value of their stock and company exit potential before making career moves. He suggests prioritizing career goals like skill growth, title, or compensation while considering the risks involved.
Convoy CEO Dan Lewis Discloses Near-M&A Deals Before Trucking Startup's Shutdown Amid Freight Recession
Convoy CEO Dan Lewis revealed on LinkedIn that the company reached advanced stages of two potential M&A deals before shutting down amid a prolonged freight recession and declined investor interest. The Seattle-based trucking startup, which had about 500 employees before the shutdown, had raised $260 million at a $3.8 billion valuation 18 months earlier.
Microsoft acquires Seattle AI spend-analysis startup Suplari, to integrate with Dynamics 365
Microsoft has acquired Seattle startup Suplari, which uses AI to analyze procurement and spending data and manages over $180 billion in spend; Suplari’s Spend Intelligence Cloud will remain available to existing customers and will be paired with Microsoft Dynamics 365. Terms were not disclosed; Suplari — a 40-person company founded in 2016 that raised $18 million — provides AI-driven cost-savings and risk insights across enterprise systems.
Nikesh Parekh
Nikesh (Niki) Parekh, CEO and Co-founder of Suplari, has built a career growing private and public technology companies in Seattle. On the What Fuels You podcast, Niki discusses what it took behind the scenes to execute seven acquisitions worth $430 million and six financings worth $150 million, the types of people he’s drawn to when building a winning team, and how recruiting and hiring have been for Suplari during COVID-19. You’ll also hear him look back fondly on his life-changing time in India doing social service and takeaway some lessons from his “happiness journey” over the last several years. See…
Organizations
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AI House AI Expert & Start-up Mentor 2025–present · current
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Provn CEO and Co-founder 2025–present · current
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University of Washington Innovation Advisor / Supply Chain Advisory Board Member 2015–present · current
Education
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Harvard Business School MBA, General Management · 1998–2000
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Harvard University BA, Biochemical Sciences · 1991–1995
