Praveen Sahay

Managing Director

WAVE Equity Partners

Praveen Sahay is a co-founder and Managing Director of WAVE Equity Partners, a private equity firm in Boston that provides expansion capital to energy, food and water companies at their inflection points of growth. The firm typically invests $10-20M in two or more equity rounds in young companies that have strong IP, rapidly growing revenue, and a differentiated product. Praveen is involved in managing the firm and serves on the Investment Committee.

Praveen's road to private equity took an unconventional path. Originally a Nuclear Physicist, he prospected for offshore oil and gas deposits; managed retail operations for India's largest mutual fund; and led armed battalions as a Deputy Commandant in India. Later, as National Elections Coordinator (CIVPOL) for the United Nations Operation in Mozambique, he coordinated the training and deployment of over 1,200 international police officers and played a significant role in Mozambique's democratic transition in 1994.

Before founding WAVE, Praveen was an investment professional for 12 years with VIMAC and Updata Venture Partners, both early stage venture firms. He also served as a Strategy Consultant to technology and PE firms during his tenure at Dean & Company. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Kauffman Fellowship Program, a program designed to select, educate and train future leaders in the venture capital industry.

Praveen has an MBA from the University of Chicago, a degree in Geophysics from IIT, Roorkee, an MS in Nuclear Physics, and BS in Physics Honors from St. Stephen's College in New Delhi. He was awarded a UN Peace Medal for his services in Mozambique.

Presentation: Early Growth Equity for Clean Energyy, Food, Waste and Water Companies