Rajiv Bhat

Peep this legend Rajiv Bhat, this guy’s a straight-up legend in the startup and tech world. He’s the kind of dude who’s been around the block, crushed it at every stop, and now he’s building the future with AI and data science.

So, Rajiv’s the CEO and co-founder of martini.ai, a company all about using AI to do credit risk and analytics, basically, making smarter lending decisions without the bullshit. The dude’s been deep in the trenches with machine learning and algorithms, which makes total sense given his crazy academic background. He’s got a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Colorado Boulder, yeah, he’s that smart, then went on to get an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School. That combo? It’s like rocket fuel for a tech entrepreneur.

Before all that, Rajiv jumped into the startup scene with Mertado back in W10 YC, that was the winter batch, and it got snapped up by Groupon later on. That’s a real deal exit, no cap. He’s also worked at some of the biggest names in mobile and data, InMobi, where he was SVP of Data Sciences, running machine learning, pricing, and optimization for their global network. Basically, he was the guy making sure the data was working for them at a massive scale.

But that’s not all. He’s been at Kosmix (which is now Walmart Labs), doing analytics, and he even kicked it as a Data Scientist at Groupon. Plus, he started his career at McKinsey, so he’s got that consulting grind in his bones. All this shows he’s got a deep understanding of how big companies run and how to build startups from scratch.

Now, he’s also a General Partner at Pioneer Fund and was a Senior Venture Partner at AI Fund. That tells me he’s not just building stuff but also backing the next wave of AI startups. He’s got skin in the game on both ends, creating and investing. That’s the sign of someone who’s genuinely motivated by innovation, not just money.

What’s wild is his process, from hardcore physics to startup founder to VC, all driven by a passion for data, algorithms, and solving real-world problems. It’s like he sees the world through a lens of complex math and then turns that into shit that actually works at scale. That’s rare as hell.

He’s based in SF now, but honestly, this guy’s story is about pushing boundaries. He’s the real deal, someone who’s been through the grind, crushed some big wins, and now he’s all about building smarter, better tech for the future. No bullshit, just pure entrepreneurial fire.