Sierra Ventures Announces New Managing Partner, Shashank Saxena

Sierra Ventures, a venture capital firm known for its focus on early-stage investments in enterprise and frontier technologies, has welcomed Shashank Saxena as its new Managing Partner. Saxena, recognized for his entrepreneurship and expertise in the software industry, made headlines with the remarkable acquisition of his startup VNDLY by Workday for $510 million.

Saxena brings a wealth of experience to Sierra Ventures, having served as the General Manager of the Workday VNDLY division post-acquisition. His previous roles include leading positions at Kroger and Citi Group, alongside his contributions as an early-stage venture partner and angel investor. Sierra Ventures' Managing Partner, Mark Fernandes, lauded Saxena’s deep understanding of the enterprise software space and his solid blend of technical and commercial skills.

At Sierra Ventures, Saxena will primarily focus on investments in the applications software sector. The firm recently secured a $270 million Fund 13, aiming to continue its strategy of early investment in North America's promising B2B companies. Sierra Ventures has already backed several unicorn companies, signaling a promising future for the firm under Saxena's guidance.