SD

Shernaz Daver

Operating Partner and CMO at Khosla Ventures

San Francisco Bay Area

Overview 

Shernaz Daver is a seasoned Global Marketing and Communications Executive with a strong background in advising, investing in, and supporting various companies in the tech and biotech sectors. Currently serving as an Operating Partner and CMO at Khosla Ventures, she has also held key roles at notable companies like Udacity and Inktomi Corporation, showcasing her expertise in product launches, crisis management, and strategic marketing. Daver's career highlights include serving as an Executive Advisor at Kitty Hawk and being an Advisory Partner at GV, demonstrating her ability to provide valuable insights and guidance to companies in different stages of growth. Additionally, her investment focus on seed-stage companies in sectors like BioTech and Consumer Internet highlights her commitment to supporting and nurturing emerging businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Work Experience 

  • Operating Partner and CMO

    2021 - Current

Khosla Ventures provides venture assistance to entrepreneurs in AI, sustainability, enterprise, consumer, health and frontier technologies.

Raised $1,500,000.00 from Raj Sareen.

  • Marketing and Communications

    2016

    Built communications and marketing during the company's most ambitious building phases; shaping public perception and media understanding of next-generation electric aviation and urban air mobility.

  • Marketing

    2011 - 2021

    Was instrumental in building out GV since its early days as a new venture fund. Introduced the fund, partners and portfolio to the world to support its mission, making it one of the premier funds today.

Google Ventures is an investment arm of Alphabet that provides seed, venture, and growth-stage funding to technology companies.

  • Pre/Post-IPO Communications & Brand Strategy

    2018 - 2021

    Collaborated with teams to develop a clear, compelling narrative that set the company apart in a crowded life sciences market. Supported the company through its successful IPO in 2019—one of the top five performers that year—and helped position it as a category-defining leader.

  • Chief Marketing Officer, Head of Communications

    2013 - 2017

    Repositioned Udacity from yet-another MOOC to a leading company in the lifelong learning space. Grew Udacity student base by 5x; increased revenue over 100% year over year, the strongest year in the history of the company; built partnerships with 60 companies including Amazon.com, IBM and Lyft; launched multiple Nanodegrees including "Self-Driving Car," the fastest growing program in Udacity's history. Built a strong team focused on user acquisition, performance marketing. brand, marketing engineering, data analytics, communications and partnerships.

  • Principal & Owner

    2004 - 2015

    A high-end strategic marketing consultancy to build pathbreaking companies across the globe. Netflix, Walmart, Baidu, Zynga, Guardant Health, Polyvore (Yahoo), Groupon, Savvis (Century Link), Nokia, Samsung, Red Hot Labs (Google), Zynga, Opsware (HP), Truveo (AOL), Khan Academy and others.

  • SVP Marketing & Investor Relations

    1997 - 2003

    Led Inktomi’s global marketing and investor relations departments for five years. Was the first and only head of marketing at the company. Instrumental in forming the company’s worldwide brand, go-to-market strategy and market position with customers, partners, media and Wall Street, making Inktomi one of the hottest Internet names reaching over $37 billion in valuation. Founded Inktomi’s investor relations group and led IR with Street analysts, investment bankers, and the VC community. Guided the company’s communications through its IPO and follow-on offerings.

Inktomi Corporation is a California-based company developing software for internet service providers.

  • Director Communications and Investor Relations

    1995 - 1996

  • Manager, Marketing, European Developer Relations (Paris)

    1990 - 1995

Sun Microsystems is a multinational vendor of computers, computer software and hardware, and information technology services.

Raised $1,700,000.00 from Kleiner Perkins.

Articles About Shernaz

Relevant Websites