Dev Khare
Partner at Lightspeed India
Investing in and supporting AI-native, SaaS, and digital media startups across India and Southeast Asia while exploring the shift toward AI-driven brand discovery.
Intro
I'm Dev Khare, a Partner at Lightspeed India. For over 14 years, I've focused on backing software and digital media startups across India and Southeast Asia. My background spans computer science, finance, and an MBA from Harvard, which helps me bridge the gap between technical architecture and venture strategy. I'm particularly passionate about the 'AI on top of India Stack' movement and the shift toward AI-native applications. I believe the future belongs to tiny, agile teams and that AI is a fundamental mindset shift for leadership. Whether it's scaling SaaS, navigating HealthTech, or exploring the next generation of quick commerce, I'm dedicated to finding India's next great founders and helping them build robust, multi-regional products. Outside of the office, you'll likely find me catching up on movies, anime, or comics.
Networking
What I can offer
- ›Venture capital investment and board governance
- ›Cross-border market entry strategy (US-India)
- ›Strategic connections between portfolio companies
- ›Insights on AI search and product-led growth
What I'm looking for
- ›India’s next great founders
- ›Builders participating in hackathons and roundtables
- ›CMOs and marketing leaders discussing the future of brand discovery
Best fit for
Focus
Current interests
Core competencies
Background
Career
Over 14 years as a Partner at Lightspeed India focusing on software and digital media startups in India and Southeast Asia, following an extensive background in venture capital and board governance.
Education
MBA from Harvard Business School (1996–1998); BS in Economics (Finance) from The Wharton School (1990–1994); BS in Computer Science & Engineering from University of Pennsylvania (1990–1994).
Achievements
- ›Board Member for RevvSales Inc. through its acquisition by Legalzoom
- ›Backed Coral, reaching millions in revenue in under a year with a $12.5M seed round
- ›Partnered with Emergent to host Vibecon for 300 top Indian builders
Opinions
- Tiny teams are the future
- The math for startups has become increasingly brutal since 2023
- AI is a mindset shift that fundamentally changes strategy and decision speed
- Brand discovery is shifting from traditional SEO to AI search (GEO)
Personality
Communication style
Professional, encouraging, and analytical; balances high-level strategy with behind-the-scenes founder stories.
Formality — 7/10
Vocabulary