Sarika Saxena

Managing Partner – IAN Alpha Fund

Sarka Saxena is an accomplished professional with a distinguished presence in the corporate world. With a diverse background and extensive experience, she has made significant contributions to various organizations and sectors she has been involved in.

With over 25 years of experience, Sarika has been actively engaged in the M&A and private equity (PE) investments space since 2002. She held a prominent position as the head of the M&A function in a leading publicly traded technology company, where she successfully acquired technology firms across the United States and the United Kingdom, overseeing the entire process, including post-merger integration. Subsequently, she played a pivotal role in facilitating the sale of the company to a large international PE fund.

In the past six years, Sarika has been actively involved in venture capital (VC) investments, representing a well-known public company and its family office. Her investment portfolio spans various domains, including consumer, technology, and fintech, encompassing both domestic and cross-border investments. Additionally, she has recently ventured into angel investing.

Prior to her current position, She held several senior management roles at reputable companies, consistently showcasing her ability to lead teams and deliver exceptional results. Her expertise in strategic planning and business development has played a vital role in driving growth and profitability for the organizations she has served.

Renowned for her exceptional networking skills, Sarika possesses a unique ability to forge strong partnerships. She has built and nurtured valuable relationships with key clients, partners, and industry influencers, leveraging her extensive network and industry connections throughout her professional journey.
She has been actively involved with various stakeholders in the investment ecosystem, including VC/PE funds, banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), and overseas lenders, assisting companies in raising funds in different capacities. She notably spearheaded the establishment of an innovative, technology-driven independent NBFC for a market leader in post-agricultural warehousing solutions, involving the acquisition of an existing company and obtaining necessary approvals from regulatory bodies like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). She also played a pivotal role in setting up the systems and processes for the new entity, which was subsequently acquired by one of the largest funds based in Canada.

Furthermore, she is actively involved in mentoring various start-ups, providing guidance and advice on investments and strategic business decisions. She is associated with several angel funds, where she advises on investment opportunities and provides insights on the next steps for start-ups, including fundraising and other strategic considerations.

Early in her career, Sarika gained extensive experience in the Indian debt markets, specializing in raising debt for public sector companies across India and advising corporates on investment strategies.
She also holds a full-time MBA from the London Business School, University of London (UK). She completed her undergraduate degree (with Honours) in Mathematics from Delhi University and pursued a PGDBM (Finance) from IMI, Delhi.