Ash Lilani is Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Saama Capital. Ash has been working with technology and venture capital globally for 25 years.  He was an early pioneer of the Indian venture capital ecosystem and has been investing in India since 2003.  At Saama Capital, he has led investments in companies such as PayTM, Mezi, Snapdeal, Lending Kart, Chaipoint, Veeba Foods, Raw Pressery, EazyDiner, Mom’s Company, Sula Wines, Genesis Colors, SKS MicroFinance, Prizm Payments, Applabs, Shaadi.com, Vistaar Finance, Shubham Housing, Games2 Win and many others. 

Prior to Saama, Lilani served as the President of India and China markets for Silicon Valley Bank and he founded and headed SVB Global, setting the strategy and overseeing the development and operation of international subsidiaries in London, Tel Aviv, Bangalore, Mumbai, Beijing and Shanghai. Prior to taking on SVB’s globalization efforts, Lilani served as Senior Vice President and Division Manager of SVB’s largest market and was based in Silicon Valley, where he was responsible for commercial banking activity and leadership of the team closely working with leading venture capital and technology companies in the area.Ash continues to be an advisor to Silicon Valley Bank. He is also an independent board member of Alteria Capital., which is a venture debt fund in India. He also mentors several entrepreneurs and young companies in Silicon Valley and India. 

Ash Lilani is a Board member at the American India Foundation, a former board member of the U.S.-India Business Council, a charter member of TiE, and was a founder of the U.S.-India Venture Capital Association. Ash Lilani holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting from Bangalore University and has a MBA degree from Philadelphia University.