M.R. Rangaswami is an entrepreneur, investor, and community builder. His career as a technology CMO, angel investor, corporate eco-strategist, and philanthropist demonstrates a unique talent for fostering innovation and creating impactful networks.

After a middle-class upbringing in Chennai, India, M.R. arrived in America with $8 in his pocket as a university student. Settling down in Silicon Valley, he contributed to the rapid expansion of the technology industry as a pioneering marketing executive at both small and large software companies, including Oracle and Baan.

In 1997, M.R. co-founded Sand Hill Group, one of the earliest angel investment firms, and The Wall Street Journal featured his “hedcut” sketch on its front page. Forbes named M.R. to its “Midas” list of the world’s best venture capitalists investors and CRN ranked him as one of the Top 25 Technology executives. M.R. publishes SandHill.com, a leading website for entrepreneurs, executives, and investors. He also produced the Software conference and now hosts the prestigious Enterprise retreat for the top 100 leaders in technology. He also hosts NPC, India’s largest entrepreneurship conference.

M.R. directed profits from Enterprise to fund the SHG Foundation, a million-dollar nonprofit funding a variety of social entrepreneurship organizations around the world, including Agastya, Black Girls Code, and Room to Read. He is currently a board member of the Kaliash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation, The Nudge Foundation, and the WISH Foundation.

In 2007, M.R. founded the Corporate Eco Forum (CEF), an invitation-only membership organization for Global 500 companies that demonstrate a serious commitment to the environment as a business strategy. CEF’s mission is to accelerate sustainable business innovation by creating a neutral space for senior business leaders to strategize and exchange best-practice insights. Members represent more than 20 industries and have combined revenues exceeding $4 trillion.

In 2012, M.R. founded Indiaspora to unite the Indian diaspora and to transform its success into meaningful impact in India and on the global stage. By sharing insights, hosting events, and connecting people, the nonprofit organization unites the professionally, geographically, and religiously diverse Indian community toward collective action. Indiaspora events include its annual Leadership Forum, Philanthropy Summit, and the Global Connect program. Indiaspora also engages in community issues, such as its COVID-19 food insecurity relief effort and its successful initiative to obtain a USPS stamp to celebrate Diwali in 2016. The Canada-India Business Council’s inaugural “Global Service Award” recognized Indiaspora’s groundbreaking efforts to unite the diaspora.

M.R. is an avid sports fan who supports an eclectic variety of sports, from Aussie rules football to cricket to all the San Francisco Bay Area teams. He has enjoyed traveling to more than 60 countries as an executive and public speaker, but most loves time with his wife and daughters at home in San Francisco.

M.R. Rangaswami

Founder at Indiaspora, CEF & Sand Hill Group

Bio