From Jakarta to Silicon Valley: The Journey of Rishi Taparia, Co-Founder of Garuda Ventures

Rishi Taparia’s journey from Jakarta to founding a successful venture capital firm in San Francisco is nothing short of inspiring. Starting out with a dream of becoming an NBA player, Taparia has now found fulfillment in coaching his son’s basketball team and making a mark in the world of tech investments.

After moving to the US for his studies, Taparia gained valuable experience at top venture firms before co-founding Garuda Ventures with Arpan Punyani. Their focus on investing in software, fintech, e-commerce, cybersecurity, and climate companies has led to a diverse portfolio of over 30 companies, including some innovative startups like Moonshot AI and Evergrow.

When asked about the most exciting space to invest in right now, Taparia highlights the potential of software advancements in delivering time back to customers. He believes that technology should ultimately give people more time to focus on what truly matters.

With a keen focus on family, fund, and founders, Taparia’s daily thoughts revolve around the three Fs. His career advice to his younger self is to embrace experimentation, try new things, and not feel constrained by a single path to success.

As Taparia continues to make waves in the world of venture capital, his story serves as a reminder that with determination and a willingness to explore new opportunities, anyone can achieve their dreams, no matter where they start.