Hyderabad Angels

Rathnakar Samavedam is the Investment Director and Managing Partner at Hyderabad Angels Fund (haf.vc) and serves as CEO of Hyderabad Angels, bringing over 23 years of experience across startups, corporate finance, investment strategy, fundraising, and risk management. A Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary, with advanced management credentials from Symbiosis University and IIM Bangalore, he combines deep technical expertise with strong strategic insight. At haf.vc, Rathnakar has led 80+ investments and enabled 20+ successful exits, playing a pivotal role in building one of India's most active early-stage investor platforms. He is known for his hands-on approach with founders, disciplined evaluation frameworks, and commitment to building scalable, governance-led businesses. Beyond investing, he is a respected mentor, speaker, and ecosystem leader, actively contributing to startup forums, panels, and institutional committees. Previously, he held senior finance and leadership roles at Spencer's Retail (RPG Group), ICICI Bank, and Prolifics, managing complex financial operations across global markets. He is also a recognised stock market analyst on Telugu television, helping demystify investing for a wider audience. Through active involvement with platforms such as T-Hub Startup Fund, AIC SKU Anantapur, SISFS T-Hub, AIC KLU University, and key Telangana government startup initiatives, Rathnakar continues to shape India's startup and investment ecosystem. At haf.vc, his focus remains on disciplined capital deployment, founder enablement, and long-term value creation.

Kalyan Sivalenka, CFA is the Managing Partner of Hyderabad Angels Fund (haf.vc) and a seasoned investment professional with over two decades of experience across investment banking, venture capital, and entrepreneurship. A CFA charterholder, he began his career in investment banking before founding Springforth Capital Advisors, where he advised growth-stage companies on capital raising and financial strategy. His transition from advisor to investor was a natural evolution, driven by a strong conviction to partner directly with founders in building enduring, impactful businesses. At haf.vc, Kalyan leads a conviction-led, research-driven investment approach, combining analytical rigour with intuitive judgment. His leadership philosophy emphasizes empowerment, accountability, and long-term partnership with founders well beyond the investment. Building on the legacy of Hyderabad Angels, haf.vc focuses on bridging the pre-Series A to Series B gap, backing scalable startups, particularly from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, where he believes some of India's most resilient and practical innovations are emerging. Bullish on AI and the digital consumer economy, Kalyan is a strong believer in India's youth-driven innovation story, reflected in haf.vc's investments in emerging digital platforms. Guided by integrity, discipline, and operational excellence, he views venture capital as a catalyst for sustainable value creation. Through haf.vc, he aims to institutionalise early-stage investing and build a trusted venture platform that delivers meaningful capital, genuine guidance, and long-term impact for founders and investors alike.

Abhishek Nori, CFA, brings deep experience across private equity, private debt, venture capital, and real assets, having worked on 25+ private market transactions aggregating to approximately $20 million. Prior to haf.vc, he served as Head of Alternate Investments at Upwisery Advisors LLP, a boutique multi-client family office managing ~$2 billion in AUA, where he evaluated and executed investments across domestic and international PE, private debt, and real estate. Earlier, Abhishek was Head of Corporate Strategy at PURE EV, where he worked on a $100 million Series B fundraising, and managed multiple mandates at Springforth Capital, spanning PE, bridge, and hybrid funding rounds across sectors including logistics, fintech, EV, and healthcare. His experience covers deal sourcing, valuation, investor engagement, and transaction documentation, combined with strong exposure to advising family offices and evaluating unlisted investments. He brings a hands-on, execution-focused approach with strategic insight across the VC to PE lifecycle.

Mahima Rao is a Senior Associate at Hyderabad Angels Fund (haf.vc), where she drives branding and marketing initiatives, partner relations, and supports fundraising efforts, strengthening the fund's investor network and market positioning. She leads investor outreach and onboarding, manages ecosystem relationships, and ensures seamless internal operations to support efficient fund execution. Prior to haf.vc, Mahima worked as a Growth Strategist at Zomato, where she led market initiatives while owning and scaling a portfolio of accounts, driving sustained growth and performance. She has also worked with Thrive Co-Living, gaining hands-on experience in consumer growth, brand building, and execution. With a strong blend of strategy, relationship management, and execution excellence, she contributes to building haf.vc as a credible, institutionally run venture platform for founders and investors alike.

Medha Mallela is a Senior Analyst at Hyderabad Angels Fund (haf.vc), where she supports fund operations, compliance, investor communication, and startup evaluations, playing a key role in the fund's day-to-day execution and investment process. She works closely with internal teams to ensure governance, reporting, and operational efficiency across the fund. Prior to haf.vc, Medha was part of Akasam Consulting, where she worked on valuation models, financial analysis, and deal documentation for M&A transactions, gaining strong exposure to transaction structuring and diligence. An MBA (Finance) graduate and a CFA Level I candidate, she brings analytical rigour, attention to detail, and execution discipline to her role, contributing to haf.vc's institutionally driven approach to venture investing.