Barooah’s challenging journey in venture capital
In 2015, Urvashi Barooah faced rejection from numerous MBA programs due to her ambition of entering the male-dominated venture capital sector.
But she transformed this setback into a driving force, persistently chasing her dream and challenging societal norms.
Barooah, unwilling to give up, started gaining experience through alternative methods like self-education, attending entrepreneurial events and seeking guidance from mentors.
Her doggedness eventually led to the founding of Artiphy, a startup aimed at interconnecting artists and audiences.
Launching Artiphy not only gave her a foot in the door to the venture capital sector, it also showcased how creativity and innovation could be harnessed for change.
Today, at the ripe age of 33, Barooah is a partner at Redpoint Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based firm, handling a whopping $650 million ninth fund.
She attributes this triumph to her upbringing in Guwahati, India, where she honed her business acumen and learnt the nuances of negotiation and management.
Barooah is not shy to admit that penetrating the venture capital sector, especially in Silicon Valley, is no easy task and requires more than academic prowess.
But she viewed the initial hindrances as necessary evils, forcing her to acquire diverse skills, practical market knowledge, and a strong network.
For Barooah, these challenges were not symbols of ineptitude but reminders that the path to success in this domain is seldom a straight line.
Born to parents who were seasoned in the business world, Barooah received practical exposure of managing a business and tackling hurdles associated with it.
This grounding played a vital role in evolving Barooah into a successful venture capitalist who could identify investment opportunities overlooked by others.
In 2019, an internship at Primary Venture Partners gave Barooah an opportunity to join Redpoint Ventures, which steered a significant transition in her career.
Displaying stellar growth and competency, she swiftly ascended the corporate ranks to become a partner.
Barooah’s rich investment portfolio includes diverse areas like blockchain, cryptocurrency based ventures, AI-integrated SaaS startups and confidential projects.
In addition to investing though, she passionately mentors upcoming entrepreneurs and aligns her interests with the businesses she supports, offering strategic guidance.
Her balanced approach and investment planning fortify Barooah’s position in the venture capital ecosystem, building a promising future in the landscape.
