Vijay R.

Vijay Rajendran

I Help Leaders Win at Fundraising, Go-to-Market, & Building Teams

Haas School of Business (Berkeley) Logo

Studied at Haas School of Business (Berkeley)

University of California, Berkeley Logo

Works at University of California, Berkeley

Available tomorrow at 1:00 AM UTC

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Vijay's Offerings

Custom hourly · $225/hr

Get help with Business Strategy Development, Fundraising, and .

Vijay’s Startup Founders Qualifications

Coaches professionally

Experience level: Executive

100+ people coached for Startup Founders

Welcome to my profile! With a deep background in venture capital and executive coaching, I specialize in guiding startup founders through the complexities of leadership and business growth. As a former leader at 500 Startups, I supported one of the largest early-stage venture capital portfolios, helping numerous founders transition into successful CEOs. My experience as an Executive & Personal Growth Coach allows me to address challenges such as fundraising difficulties, team-building issues, and co-founder disagreements, while also fostering personal development and stress management. Additionally, I teach leadership and change management at UC Berkeley, equipping future leaders with the skills they need to thrive. Let's work together to transform your startup journey—reach out to start the conversation!

Vijay can help with:

Business Strategy Development

Fundraising

Go-to-Market Strategy

Ideation

Market Research

Venture Capital Strategy

View all of Vijay’s categories

About Vijay

Vijay Rajendran is a Berkeley-trained executive coach based in Silicon Valley. After 20 years as an entrepreneur, investor, and advisor, he has supported hundreds of founders and helped them on their journey to becoming CEOs.​ He believes that through leadership coaching at pivotal moments, we can better the world, one bold leader at a time. Vijay has led portfolio value at 500 Global, a venture capital firm with $2.7 billion under management. He led a global team that helped startups in over 80 countries, and their founders, develop connections, raise capital, and create a thriving community. Previously, he led a venture studio for a global bank, founded a startup in fintech and e-commerce, and was a management consultant. Vijay received a BS in Business Administration from Boston University as well as an MS in Foreign Service and an MBA from Georgetown University. He is also an alumnus of the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute and holds the Associate Certified Coach credential from the International Coaching Federation. Vijay is the author of the 2025 top new release, The Funding Framework: Secure Startup Funding with Confidence, published by Leader’s Press. Vijay spent many years as a strategy consultant. Of course, coaching is very different from consulting and mentoring; the agenda and goals are set by clients, rather than by providing solutions to generic situations or trying to fix them as individuals. He helps them be resilient rather than perfect. Being Authentic and being themselves. They can bring their genius to work and wake up every day feeling limitless and fulfilled.

Why do I coach?

Who I work with People I work with have the unique challenge of accomplishing hard things that have never been done before. As they try to improve the world, they find they want to improve themselves. Working with individuals in the way that I do means transformation. Often leaders come to me because they are struggling with something important in the business. They are very likely aware that they need to instigate change somehow and have probably tried many things but haven’t found the right solution. What the Process is like Specifically, when I work with someone, I am helping them in 1:1 individual coaching sessions and some team settings to find relief from such issues as Difficulty Fundraising (for their Startup or Fund), Challenges of Growing their Business, Co-Founder Disagreements, & Problems with Team-Building. We tackle those issues to find solutions, but also I help them overcome feelings of stress, conflict, and feeling stuck, the impact of which can be hugely significant [both at home and at work]. They tend to feel a new focus, rhythm, “lightness.” Why can I help you? I led the portfolio value team that supported one of the largest early stage venture capital portfolios in the world: 500 Startups. I've supported many founders and helped them on their journey to becoming CEOs. I have also developed relationships with investors and executives and understand how to help them develop professional and organizational success they want.

Work Experience

University of California, Berkeley Logo

Adjunct Instructor of Management

University of California, Berkeley

October 2025 - Present

Part-time instructor position within UC Berkeley Extension's Full-Time Certificate Programs, teaching a Spring 2026 course called "Leadership and Change Management for Startup Founders" Start-up Ventures, Leadership and +1 skill

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Author

The Funding Framework

February 2025 - Present

#1 New Release in Venture Capital on Amazon Unlock the secrets to securing startup funding with The Funding Framework: Secure Startup Funding with Confidence by Vijay Rajendran. This indispensable guide is packed with actionable insights and expert strategies that can transform your approach to fundraising. Non-fiction Writer, Venture Capital and +1 skill

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Consultant - Venture Building

gAI ventures

January 2025 - Present

Creating and scaling generative AI companies at venture builder, gAI Ventures, alongside world-class operators to grow fast. Venture Capital, Lean Startup and +2 skills

Startup System Logo

Executive & Personal Growth Coach

Startup System

October 2023 - Present

Who I work with People I work with have the unique challenge of accomplishing hard things that have never been done before. As they try to improve the world, they find they want to improve themselves. Working with individuals in the way that I do means transformation. Often leaders come to me because they are struggling with something important in the business. They are very likely aware that they need to instigate change somehow and have probably tried many things but haven’t found the right solution. What the Process is like Specifically, when I work with someone, I am helping them in 1:1 individual coaching sessions and some team settings to find relief from such issues as Difficulty Fundraising (for their Startup or Fund), Challenges of Growing their Business, Co-Founder Disagreements, & Problems with Team-Building. We tackle those issues to find solutions, but also I help them overcome feelings of stress, conflict, and feeling stuck, the impact of which can be hugely significant [both at home and at work]. They tend to feel a new focus, rhythm, “lightness.” Why can I help you? I led the portfolio value team that supported one of the largest early stage venture capital portfolios in the world: 500 Startups. I've supported many founders and helped them on their journey to becoming CEOs. I have also developed relationships with investors and executives and understand how to help them develop professional and organizational success they want. Leadership, Personal Development and +4 skills

Climate Capital Logo

Climate Tech Investor

Climate Capital

December 2022 - October 2024

Angel investor in Climate startups and instructor in the Climate Angels educational program with members of the Climate Capital Team. Venture Capital

Education

Haas School of Business (Berkeley) Logo

Haas School of Business (Berkeley)

Executive Coaching and Leadership Program

2024 - 2024

The Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute's interdisciplinary approach incorporates analytical and emotional intelligence for executive coaching in service of the hearts and minds of leaders. Leadership, Leadership Development and +1 skill

McDonough School of Business (Georgetown) Logo

McDonough School of Business (Georgetown)

MBA

Vijay R.

Vijay R.

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