About Me
My background is in engineering and physics, after which I pivoted into business consulting, where I helped companies plan R&D strategy over a 10-year time horizon. With this experience, I switched to corporate venture capital where I specialized in AI, AR, and VR investments as well as assisted with corporate strategy. After completing my M.S. in Management Science & Engineering at Stanford, I returned to venture capital investing, focusing on robotics, IoT and consumer electronics. I now work at CPP Investment's new San Francisco office.
Education
Areas of Interest
Virtual / Augmented Reality
Artificial Intelligence
Internet of Things
Robotics
Consumer Electronics
2016 - 2018
Stanford University
M.S. Management Science & Engineering
Stanford Honors Coop Program
Stanford Robotics Club, Mars Rover Team
Stanford Student Space Initiative, Balloons / Spaceshot Team
2008 - 2012
University of California, Berkeley
B.S. Engineering Physics
Minor Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Berkeley Nanotechnology Club
Society of Engineering Sciences
Engineering Physics Honors Society
Experience
January 2021 - Present
Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board
As a Senior Associate at CPPIB's International division, my role is to integrate CPPIB and our portfolio companies into the Silicon Valley ecosystem
July 2018 - December 2020
Grishin Robotics
Investor in robotics, IoT, AR/VR, Gaming, wellness tech, productivity, and consumer electronics startups.
Deal team on Rogue Games (Board Observer), Taskade, Ziva Dynamics
Startup Mentor at Stanford Lean Launchpad, Volunteer Judge at UC Berkeley Launch Accelerator
Articles at grishinrobotics.com/blog
November 2015 - June 2017
Samsung Ventures America
Generated deal flow and perform technical diligence on companies of strategic interest to Samsung's primary business units. Assisted in construction of investment theses and deep-dive research into new business areas for the Samsung Strategy and Innovation Center. Special focus on artificial intelligence, computer vision, robotics, and virtual and augmented reality startups. Part of the deal teams for investments in Oculii, Plume, and Wave Computing.
January 2013 - November 2015
Strategic Business Insights
Responsible for reporting on new business and technology developments and emerging opportunities in mobile communications, micro-sensors, and micromachining technologies. Present the developments to governments, science parks, and Fortune 100 companies. Participate in consulting projects including market research, scenario planning, and opportunity discovery.
May 2011 - December 2012
Berkeley Sensor and Actuator Center
Designed and fabricated an artificial "leaf" that can rapidly evaporate water through a network of microchannels. This water flow is then used to generate electricity. Experimented with a variety of materials and fabrication methods. Presented my research at industry symposiums and poster sessions, as well as provided training and supervision for an undergraduate assistant.
Summer 2010
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia / National Nanotechnology Laboratory
Fabricated multiple prototype raised cantilever flow sensors to emulate the lateral flow sensors on fish. Designed a durable three axis capacitive touch sensor for use in robotic fingers. Inspected and measured samples using scanning electron microscope, operated electron beam lithographer, maskaligner, spinner, plasma etcher, sputtering machine, metallic evaporator, profile-meter, practiced wet etching and lifting techniques.
February 2010 - May 2011
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Worked under Professor Siegrist on a Department of Energy funded "Fission Research Project" muon detector designed to scan for hidden radioactive materials in cargo containers entering the United States. Fit simulations of energy potentials to experimental data on xenon gas to minimize atomic cluster sizes and photon re-absorption to improve detector resolution.