# Ravi Adusumalli
Ravi Chandra Adusumalli is an Indian-American venture capitalist who founded [Elevation Capital](https://www.edgepedia.org/elevation-capital)'s India operations, then called SAIF Partners India, in 2002 and serves as its Founder and a Co-Managing Partner, known for early investments in [Paytm](https://www.edgepedia.org/paytm), MakeMyTrip, Swiggy, Meesho, and [Urban Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/urban-company).[1](https://staging.elevationcapital.com/team/ravi-adusumalli) • [2](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/hr-leadership/people/ravi-adusumalli-indias-most-successful-tech-investor-you-havent-heard-of/articleshow/59167663.cms) Over his career, eight of his companies have gone public in India or the US, according to the firm's team page.[1](https://staging.elevationcapital.com/team/ravi-adusumalli)
## Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Role | Founder and Co-Managing Partner, Elevation Capital (formerly SAIF Partners India)[1](https://staging.elevationcapital.com/team/ravi-adusumalli) |
| Education | BA, Cornell University, 1998, economics[2](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/hr-leadership/people/ravi-adusumalli-indias-most-successful-tech-investor-you-havent-heard-of/articleshow/59167663.cms) |
| Earlier firms | Wasatch Funds, Credit Suisse First Boston, Mobius Venture Capital[2](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/hr-leadership/people/ravi-adusumalli-indias-most-successful-tech-investor-you-havent-heard-of/articleshow/59167663.cms) |
| Joined SAIF Partners | 2002[2](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/hr-leadership/people/ravi-adusumalli-indias-most-successful-tech-investor-you-havent-heard-of/articleshow/59167663.cms) |
| Notable investments | Paytm, MakeMyTrip, FirstCry, Urban Company, ixigo, Clear, Meesho, NSE[1](https://staging.elevationcapital.com/team/ravi-adusumalli) • [2](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/hr-leadership/people/ravi-adusumalli-indias-most-successful-tech-investor-you-havent-heard-of/articleshow/59167663.cms) • [3](https://www.forbesindia.com/article/vc-and-pe-special/captain-turnaround-making-an-elevated-play/65877/1) |
| Public companies | Eight of his companies have listed in India or the US[1](https://staging.elevationcapital.com/team/ravi-adusumalli) |
| Recognitions | Forbes Midas List, 2008; AVCJ India PE Professional of the Year[2](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/hr-leadership/people/ravi-adusumalli-indias-most-successful-tech-investor-you-havent-heard-of/articleshow/59167663.cms) • [4](https://www.avcj.com/avcj/interview/60580/india-awards-pe-professional-of-the-year-ravi-adusumalli) |
| Board | Non-Executive Director of Paytm, as SAIF and Elevation's nominee (per a directory profile)[5](https://theorg.com/org/paytm/org-chart/ravi-chandra-adusumalli) |
## Early life and education
Adusumalli graduated from Cornell University in 1998 with a degree in economics. He then worked at Wasatch Funds and [Credit Suisse First Boston](https://www.edgepedia.org/credit-suisse-first-boston), and was an associate partner at Mobius Venture Capital, a $1.25 billion early-stage venture firm in [Silicon Valley](https://www.edgepedia.org/silicon-valley), before joining SAIF Partners in 2002.[2](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/hr-leadership/people/ravi-adusumalli-indias-most-successful-tech-investor-you-havent-heard-of/articleshow/59167663.cms)
He is based in Utah, traveling to India every four to six weeks. [The Economic Times](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-economic-times) places him near [Salt Lake City](https://www.edgepedia.org/salt-lake-city), while Forbes India describes him as living in [Park City, Utah](https://www.edgepedia.org/park-city-utah); the two profiles do not agree on the exact location.[2](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/hr-leadership/people/ravi-adusumalli-indias-most-successful-tech-investor-you-havent-heard-of/articleshow/59167663.cms) • [3](https://www.forbesindia.com/article/vc-and-pe-special/captain-turnaround-making-an-elevated-play/65877/1)
## Career at SAIF Partners and Elevation Capital
Adusumalli joined SAIF Partners in 2002 and built its India franchise. Among his early successes was an investment in the brokerage IL&FS Investsmart, which HSBC acquired in 2008; that deal earned him a spot on the Forbes Midas List in 2008. In 2007 he led SAIF's investment in the National Stock Exchange.[2](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/hr-leadership/people/ravi-adusumalli-indias-most-successful-tech-investor-you-havent-heard-of/articleshow/59167663.cms)
The firm's independence came in stages. In 2011 the India team spun out of SAIF Partners, raising $350 million for its first India-dedicated fund, with follow-on funds in 2014 and 2017, each of the same size.[3](https://www.forbesindia.com/article/vc-and-pe-special/captain-turnaround-making-an-elevated-play/65877/1) • [4](https://www.avcj.com/avcj/interview/60580/india-awards-pe-professional-of-the-year-ravi-adusumalli) In October 2020 the firm rebranded as Elevation Capital; SAIF stood for [SoftBank Asia Infrastructure Fund](https://www.edgepedia.org/saif-partners-india). Alongside the rebrand it raised its seventh, and largest, fund at $400 million, its fourth India-dedicated fund.[3](https://www.forbesindia.com/article/vc-and-pe-special/captain-turnaround-making-an-elevated-play/65877/1)
He built the partnership over time: [Deepak Gaur](https://www.edgepedia.org/deepak-gaur) joined him in 2006 and Vishal Sood in 2009, with the team later expanded by Mukul Khanduja, Mridul Arora, Vivek Mathur, and [Mukul Arora](https://www.edgepedia.org/mukul-arora) in 2010 and 2011.[3](https://www.forbesindia.com/article/vc-and-pe-special/captain-turnaround-making-an-elevated-play/65877/1) The firm's team page describes his current focus as consumer tech and fintech investments at the growth stage, a shift from being the first investor in a company to investing later in the journey.[1](https://staging.elevationcapital.com/team/ravi-adusumalli)
## Notable investments and exits
Two deals defined his early record. SAIF's total $70 million investment in Paytm was estimated at about $1.5 billion when The Economic Times profiled him in 2017, and the firm earned more than $300 million selling part of its Paytm stake to SoftBank. In [MakeMyTrip](https://www.edgepedia.org/makemytrip), SAIF invested about $25 million and sold its entire position in 2017 for nearly $400 million; Forbes India puts the multiple at over 20x invested capital. Together, Paytm and MakeMyTrip ranked among the largest cash exits in Indian venture capital at that point.[2](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/hr-leadership/people/ravi-adusumalli-indias-most-successful-tech-investor-you-havent-heard-of/articleshow/59167663.cms) • [3](https://www.forbesindia.com/article/vc-and-pe-special/captain-turnaround-making-an-elevated-play/65877/1)
Other outcomes include [Justdial](https://www.edgepedia.org/justdial), where the firm made over 12x and which went public raising INR9.5 billion ($173 million), allowing SAIF, Sequoia, SAP, Tiger Global, and ECGS to make partial exits. Adusumalli said the firm postponed the IPO rather than list at a low price.[3](https://www.forbesindia.com/article/vc-and-pe-special/captain-turnaround-making-an-elevated-play/65877/1) • [4](https://www.avcj.com/avcj/interview/60580/india-awards-pe-professional-of-the-year-ravi-adusumalli) In Meesho, Elevation invested about $2.3 million of the company's $3 million Series A in 2017, growing its total to $25 million; Meesho was reported raising at up to a $1.5 billion valuation.[3](https://www.forbesindia.com/article/vc-and-pe-special/captain-turnaround-making-an-elevated-play/65877/1) Forbes India also counts NSE, Qikwell, Urban Company, and Swiggy among high-multiple or partial exits, and lists Swiggy, Unacademy, FirstCry, and Urban Company among the firm's early unicorn moves.[3](https://www.forbesindia.com/article/vc-and-pe-special/captain-turnaround-making-an-elevated-play/65877/1)
The record includes failures as well: Zovi, Homeshop18, and iStream.[2](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/hr-leadership/people/ravi-adusumalli-indias-most-successful-tech-investor-you-havent-heard-of/articleshow/59167663.cms)
## Boards and public positions
A directory profile identifies Adusumalli as a Non-Executive Director of Paytm and a nominee of SAIF and Elevation Capital on the company's board.[5](https://theorg.com/org/paytm/org-chart/ravi-chandra-adusumalli)
## References
1. [Ravi Adusumalli – Elevation Capital team page](https://staging.elevationcapital.com/team/ravi-adusumalli)
2. [Ravi Adusumalli – India's most-successful tech investor you haven't heard of – The Economic Times](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/hr-leadership/people/ravi-adusumalli-indias-most-successful-tech-investor-you-havent-heard-of/articleshow/59167663.cms)
3. [Captain Turnaround: Making an elevated play – Forbes India](https://www.forbesindia.com/article/vc-and-pe-special/captain-turnaround-making-an-elevated-play/65877/1)
4. [India Awards: PE Professional of the Year – Ravi Adusumalli – AVCJ](https://www.avcj.com/avcj/interview/60580/india-awards-pe-professional-of-the-year-ravi-adusumalli)
5. [Ravi Chandra Adusumalli – Director at Paytm – The Org](https://theorg.com/org/paytm/org-chart/ravi-chandra-adusumalli)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Economics and business › Founders, operators, and investors › Venture and growth investors › India and Asia-Pacific venture › Indian venture investors and funds*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license