Vivek Ladsariya
Vivek Ladsariya is Managing Director and General Partner at Pioneer Square Labs / PSL Ventures, and serves as a Board Member at KamiwazaAI and Tin Can. He previously co-founded GameGarage.in and Moyyer Research, and held investment leadership roles at Fenox Venture Capital.
Author Departs Pioneer Square Labs After 7+ Years and 40+ Companies, Reflects on Career Highlights and Team Bonds
The author marks their last day at Pioneer Square Labs after over seven years and involvement with more than 40 companies, reflecting on memorable experiences and expressing gratitude for colleagues and mentors. They highlighted unique moments like pitching their AI-powered dating app 'Jail Date' and emphasized the lasting relationships formed during their tenure.
Don’t Sleep on Seattle Startups | Vivek Ladsariya (Managing Director, Pioneer Square Labs)
This week on The Data Minute, Peter sits down with Vivek Ladsariya, Managing Director at Pioneer Square Labs, for a deep dive into the Seattle startup ecosystem and the evolving world of venture studios. Vivek breaks down why Seattle has become the quiet giant of AI infrastructure, holding the second-highest concentration of AI talent in the US, and explains why the "locked up" talent at Amazon and Microsoft is finally breaking free. He also gives a candid assessment of the venture studio model, why many studios are "zombies," how AI is forcing them to pivot to a holding company structure…
Seattle Startup Tin Can Raises $3.5M, Gains Viral Success with Kid-Friendly WiFi Landline Phones
Chet Kittleson’s Seattle startup Tin Can has gained viral success with its WiFi-enabled landline phones designed to help kids avoid screens and foster real connections, raising $3.5 million and distributing products nationwide. The device's simplicity and analog nature have resonated with parents seeking alternatives to social media and texting for their children.
Seattle Startup Tin Can Raises $3.5M to Scale Screen-Free WiFi Landline Phones for Kids
Seattle startup Tin Can has raised $3.5 million from venture investors to scale its WiFi-enabled landline phones for kids, designed to limit screen exposure. The $75 phones connect children through approved contacts only, addressing parental concerns about smartphone and social media impacts on children's mental health and social development.
GeekWire Week in Review: Bill Gates Pledges $200B, Statsig Hits $1.1B Valuation, Seattle Startups Raise Millions in May 2025
This GeekWire Week in Review highlights top tech stories including Bill Gates' $200 billion philanthropy pledge, Seattle startups raising significant capital, and the emergence of new AI-driven unicorn Statsig valued at $1.1 billion. It also covers local news like a controversial Washington EV tax and cultural moments involving Seattle figures.
Seattle VCs, Including Pioneer Square Labs, Invest $8.5M in Denver Startup Kamiwaza to Boost Enterprise AI Adoption
Kamiwaza, a Denver-based startup founded in 2023, raised $8.5 million in a seed round led by S3 Ventures and Pioneer Square Labs to provide a software platform enabling enterprise AI adoption without major data migration. The company's tools support AI across cloud, on-premise, and edge infrastructure, serving Fortune 500 and government clients.
Pioneer Square Labs’ Julie Sandler to become venture partner next year, stepping down as managing director
Julie Sandler will move from managing director to venture partner at Seattle startup studio Pioneer Square Labs next year, continuing to help founders, seek investments and serve on boards. The change will occur before PSL Ventures raises its next fund, and Sandler will also chair the Washington Roundtable in the coming year.
Julie Sandler to Shift from Managing Director to Venture Partner at Pioneer Square Labs in Late 2024
Julie Sandler, managing director at Pioneer Square Labs since 2017, will transition to a venture partner role in late 2024 while continuing to engage with the firm and its portfolio. She will also chair the Washington Roundtable next year, reflecting her ongoing influence in the Pacific Northwest tech and business communities.
Aviel Ginzburg and Team Launch Foundations to Foster Seattle’s Startup Community with In-Person Support Network
Foundations, a new startup community group led by Aviel Ginzburg and others in Seattle, aims to create a supportive 'serendipity factory' for early-stage founders by fostering in-person connections among entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors. The group hosted a launch party in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood to build a vibrant local tech startup ecosystem.
Seattle VCs Warn AI Startups Against Overusing 'AI' Buzzword, Urge Focus on Customer Problems
Seattle-area venture capitalists advise AI startups to avoid overusing the term 'AI' in pitches, emphasizing the importance of focusing on real customer problems instead of hype. Investors like Vivek Ladsariya and Heather Redman stress that credible companies should integrate AI soundly without overselling it.
Vivek Ladsariya joins Pioneer Square Labs as managing director, citing "massive opportunity" in Seattle VC market
Venture investor Vivek Ladsariya left SineWave Ventures to join Pioneer Square Labs as a managing director, citing a "massive opportunity" in Seattle’s underdeveloped venture capital market. The article includes an edited interview touching on his reasons for joining PSL, views on the Seattle tech landscape, investment interests and local favorites.
GeekWire Week in Review (May 12, 2024): AWS and Google executive moves, Expedia leadership exits, Kyndryl acquires Skytap
A weekly roundup of GeekWire’s most-read technology and startup stories for the week of May 12, 2024, covering major tech moves, executive departures, acquisitions, and new accelerator initiatives in the Seattle area and beyond.
Vivek Ladsariya Joins Pioneer Square Labs as Managing Director, Moves from Bay Area to Seattle
Vivek Ladsariya, a veteran Bay Area investor with experience in enterprise technology startups, has moved to Seattle to become managing director at Pioneer Square Labs, playing a key role in their Ventures arm and Studio. He aims to focus on technically driven enterprise software infrastructure startups, especially those delivering real automation, enhancing Seattle's venture capital ecosystem.
Organizations
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Tin Can Board Member 2025–present · current
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KamiwazaAI Board Member 2024–present · current
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Pioneer Square Labs Managing Director 2024–present · current
Education
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Yale School of Management Master of Business Administration (MBA)
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University of Mumbai BE
