Sameer Gandhi
| Sameer Gandhi | |
| Occupation | Venture capitalist |
|---|---|
| Employer | Accel |
| Known for | Partner at Accel, early investment in CrowdStrike |
Sameer Gandhi is an American venture capitalist and partner at Accel, a global venture capital firm. He is known for his early-stage investments in technology companies, most notably his 2013 investment in CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity firm that later became publicly traded and one of the most valuable companies in the sector.[1] Gandhi serves on the board of directors of CrowdStrike and has been involved in funding and advising numerous technology startups across cybersecurity, enterprise software, and other sectors. In addition to his investment activities, he has participated in entrepreneurship and innovation events, including serving as a keynote speaker at Carnegie Mellon University's Lab to Market program alongside Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI.[2] Outside of venture capital, Gandhi is an avid competitive sailor who has participated in events such as the Rolex Big Boat Series in San Francisco.[3] Accel, the firm where Gandhi is a partner, was named among America's top venture capital firms in 2025 by TIME and Statista.[4]
Career
Accel
Gandhi is a partner at Accel, one of the leading venture capital firms in the United States. Accel has been involved in early-stage and growth-stage investments in technology companies globally. The firm was recognized by TIME magazine and Statista as one of America's top 350 venture capital firms in 2025.[4]
Gandhi has been described as an Accel veteran, indicating a long tenure at the firm.[1] As a partner, he has been involved in sourcing, evaluating, and managing investments in technology companies across multiple sectors. His role at Accel has included serving on the boards of portfolio companies and advising founders on strategy and growth.
In June 2025, Accel led the rolling Series D funding round for World View, a company described as a global leader in stratospheric remote sensing and flight. The funding round reflected Accel's continued interest in frontier technology companies operating in aerospace and remote sensing.[5]
CrowdStrike Investment
Gandhi's most notable investment is widely associated with CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity company. He invested in CrowdStrike in 2013, when the company was in its early stages.[1] CrowdStrike, founded by George Kurtz and Dmitri Alperovitch, went on to become one of the most prominent cybersecurity firms in the world, specializing in cloud-delivered endpoint protection and threat intelligence.
CrowdStrike's initial public offering marked a significant financial milestone, and the investment has been described by Forbes as Gandhi's most lucrative deal.[1] As of October 2024, Gandhi serves on CrowdStrike's board of directors. The company's board page notes that each director brings years of experience in cybersecurity and related fields, contributing to oversight of the firm's strategy and risk management.[6]
Speaking and Mentorship
Gandhi has been active in the entrepreneurship and innovation community beyond his direct investment work. He was invited to deliver a keynote address at Carnegie Mellon University's Lab to Market event, organized by the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship. The event featured Gandhi alongside Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, and was focused on bridging the gap between academic research and commercial markets.[2][7]
Personal Life
Outside of his professional career in venture capital, Gandhi is a competitive sailor. He participated in the 60th edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series, held in September 2024 in San Francisco. The event featured challenging wind conditions, with breezes reaching over 20 knots on the second day of racing.[3][8] The Rolex Big Boat Series, hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club, is one of the premier sailing regattas on the West Coast of the United States and also served as the 2024 ORC West Coast Championship.[8]
Recognition
Gandhi has been profiled by Forbes as a notable figure in venture capital, with particular attention to his early investment in CrowdStrike.[1] Accel, the firm where he serves as partner, was included in TIME magazine's 2025 list of America's top venture capital firms, a ranking compiled in partnership with Statista that identified 350 leading firms in the industry.[4]
His selection as a keynote speaker at Carnegie Mellon University's Lab to Market event, alongside the CEO of Perplexity AI, reflects his standing in the technology investment community and his engagement with academic institutions focused on entrepreneurship and innovation.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Sameer Gandhi".Forbes.2024-06-04.https://www.forbes.com/profile/sameer-gandhi/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Lab to Market - Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship".Carnegie Mellon University.https://www.cmu.edu/swartz-center-for-entrepreneurship/events-new/lab-to-market/index.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "60th Rolex Big Boat Series 2024 - Another Windy Day in San Francisco".ORC.2024-09-14.https://orc.org/sailors/news-archive/60th-rolex-big-boat-series-2024-another-windy-day-in-san-francisco.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "America's Top Venture Capital Firms of 2025".TIME.2025-08-19.https://time.com/7309945/top-venture-capital-firms-usa-2025/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ "World View Closes Rolling Series D Funding Led by Accel".World View Space.2025-06-12.https://www.worldview.space/stories/world-view-closes-rolling-series-d-funding-led-by-accel.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ "Board of Directors".CrowdStrike.2024-10-25.https://www.crowdstrike.com/en-us/about-us/board-of-directors/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ "Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship - Featured Stories".Carnegie Mellon University.https://www.cmu.edu/swartz-center-for-entrepreneurship/events-new/lab-to-market/featured-stories.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Windy Conditions on Day Two at Rolex Big Boat Series".ORC.2024-09-13.https://orc.org/sailors/news-archive/windy-conditions-on-day-two-at-rolex-big-boat-series.Retrieved 2026-02-24.