Pankaj Shah

Managing Director, Sankhara

📍 Palo Alto, California, United States🔄 Updated September 2026💼 21 investments📅 20 years investing🗓 Last invested Jan 2022𝕏 @upgrade_to_unlock
VC🌍 United States20+ investments
21
Total investments
11
Early stage
1
Mid stage
2
Late stage
20y
Years active

Portfolio

14 investments · sorted by recency
All investments
Early stage
Mid stage
Late stage
Investor
2022
Midnight Society is a new kind of AAA game development and publishing studio over a decade in the making. We see a future in which developers no longer create experiences in a vacuum and players share in a game’s success.Built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, we are focused on delivering our new title - Deadrop as the most community-focused, online PVP multiplayer experience the world has ever seen. We are a group of ambitious game industry veterans headed by Sumit Gupta (multiple gaming and esports exits ), Guy Beahm (DrDisRespect one of the biggest gaming influencers), Robert Bowling (Creative Strategist Call of Duty) and Quinn DelHoyo (Lead Sandbox Designer Halo) and backed by several prominent venture capital firms, angel investors, and influential strategic partners. Since launching Dec 2021, we have grown to 35+ including some of the veteran leaders within the AAA Gaming industry. Our Day Zero Community exploded from the moment we announced our intentions - within 8 months of launch we have over 500k Midnight Society accounts and followers across social media confirming that the gaming community shares our vision for what’s possible.
early stageComputer Games
Investor
2019
Experimental builds amazing blockchain-based games. The company developed the first fully decentralized strategy game on earth, CryptoWars.
Investor
2018
The RoboSig dream team has developed autonomous, systematic, and AI-supported market-neutral trading strategies coupled with automated risk management, to generate the most consistent risk adjusted returns ever seen. RoboSig is turning the problem of low, or even negative, interest rates around the world on its head. Our autonomous technology searches for and takes advantage of transient anomalies as it profitably mines global stability via the $6Trillion/day FX market and beyond.
Investor
2018
Grandata is a San Francisco-based company that develops products that sit at the intersection of artificial intelligence, data, and privacy. The company operates in markets globally and has a development office in Argentina. We create trusted universal data monetization platforms that maximize value for both individuals and companies Our advanced research in Human Dynamics (the application of “big data” to social relationships and human behavior) helps enterprise customers identify market trends and predict customer actions. Our new blockchain-based, decentralized data marketplace, Wibson, enables individuals to securely and anonymously sell their validated private information in a trusted environment. Subscribe for news about our coming products and career opportunities.
Investor
2018
Zanbato is a financial technology company established to make private markets more liquid and reliable. Launched in 2016, ZX is Zanbato’s independent, SEC-registered Alternative Trading System that is today the worlds leading platform for banks and brokers to trade private stock for their clients. More than 100 banks and brokers trust ZX for price discovery, liquidity, and trade execution services across private markets globally.
Investor
2017
Using proven crypto and blockchain technology honed over a decade, Ripple’s enterprise-grade solutions are faster, more transparent, and more cost-effective than traditional financial services. Our customers use these solutions to source crypto, facilitate instant payments, empower their treasury, engage new audiences, lower capital requirements, and drive new revenue. Founded in 2012, Ripples vision is to enable a world where value moves as seamlessly as information flows today—an Internet of Value. Ripple is the only enterprise blockchain company today with products in commercial use. Ripple’s global payments network includes over 300 customers across 40+ countries and 
six continents.
Investor
2017
Supporting your employees’ lives just got a lot easier. Create equity across your global team and give them the freedom to choose what aspects of their life they want 1:1 support and guidance via video call. After all, everyone is unique! Powered by a global, culturally diverse community of specialists covering nearly 1000 categories, including topics such as physical fitness, mental well-being, leadership coaching, ERG support, diversity & inclusion, and more. Employees have the freedom to explore and amplify their lives wherever they are, whenever they want. Enjoy an employee benefit that gives you the freedom to keep your budgets tight and consistent across your global enterprise. With TaskHuman’s unlimited pricing model, every member of your organization can engage in limitless ways to address their goals privately and confidentially with unlimited 1:1 sessions, group sessions, and in-app content. Gaining new insights with employee utilization and feedback are important for any successful benefit. Our team works hand in hand with you to provide clear and custom metrics on usage and educational resources to provide guidance and transparency to ensure your team is successful and highly engaged.
Investor
Oct 2014
ALOHA is an employee-owned and operated company committed to making the healthiest, best-tasting plant-based protein products on the planet. ALOHA’s product portfolio includes protein bars, protein drinks and protein powders that taste as good as they are for you, proving youdon’t have to sacrifice taste for nutrition. USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Soy-Free, Dairy-Free, Stevia & Sugar Alcohol-Free; all ALOHA products are sustainably sourced and thoughtfully packaged with deep respect for both people and the environment. Aloha products can be found at Whole Foods, Target, Kroger, Harris Teeter, Wegmans, Sprouts, HEB, and many other grocery/natural outlets. Aloha is also widely available online at Amazon, Thrive Market, Vitacost, Walmart.com and through its own D2C site, www.aloha.com Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alohamoment/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/alohamoment/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AlohaVideo Twitter: https://twitter.com/aloha Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aloha/
Investor
Sep 2014
Microsoft acquired AltspaceVR, a virtual events platform, in October 2017. AltspaceVR brings people together in virtual reality from over 175 countries to attend meetings, comedy shows, yoga classes, dance parties, play games, stream content or share anything on the web. AltspaceVR will help Microsoft build the world’s preeminent mixed reality community and enable the world to communicate in the most natural and fulfilling way possible online. For more information about the Altspace VR acquisition visit: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/10/03/the-era-of-windows-mixed-reality-begins-october-17/
Investor
Apr 2013
BuildZoom is a better way to remodel. We connect homeowners to the most reliable general contractors in their area and make remodeling simpler, cheaper and more predictable.   Our technology harvests public data on every licensed contractor in the United States, including license information, building permits, bond and insurance information and other government records. We also collect homeowner reviews, peer endorsements from contractors and partner with private groups to help consumers make the right decisions. Contractors get tools to upload project photos, additional information about their business and connect with new clients. Meanwhile our home improvement forum lets them build credibility and improve their BuildZoom ranking by answering homeowners’ questions.
early stageConstruction
Investor
Mar 2012
Our mission is to power more effective and accountable government. Contact Us: https://opengov.com/contact-us/ OpenGov is the leader in modern cloud software for U.S. local governments, state agencies, school districts, and special districts. With a mission to power more effective and accountable government, OpenGov serves more than 1,600 agencies across the U.S. and is built exclusively for the unique budgeting, permitting and licensing, procurement, and asset management needs of the public sector. The OpenGov Cloud makes organizations more collaborative and efficient and enables best-in-class communication with stakeholders and your community.
Investor
Dec 2011
Wish is a mobile e-commerce platform that connects millions of consumers with the widest selection of products delivered directly to their doors. Our vision is to unlock ecommerce for the underserved by giving everyone access to the most affordable and convenient shopping experience on the planet. Wish is headquartered in San Francisco, with additional offices around the world.
Investor
2011
Addepar is a global data and AI platform empowering investment professionals to turn complex financial information into actionable intelligence. Addepar unifies portfolio, market and client data in a total portfolio view and delivers AI-powered insights within investment and client workflows. More than 1,400 firms in 60 countries use Addepar to manage and advise on $9 trillion in assets. Its open platform integrates with 650+ software, data and consulting partners to power end-to-end investment operations across firms of all sizes and complexity. Addepar supports clients worldwide with offices in New York City, Salt Lake City, London, Edinburgh, Pune, Dubai, Geneva, São Paulo and Singapore.
Investor
2006
Founded in 2006, VentureBeat is the leading source for transformative tech news and events that provide deep context to help business leaders make smart decisions and stay on top of breaking news. VB is recognized as the leading media authority in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data. It also offers the most incisive coverage of the game industry. Whether you come for the articles, read our newsletters, or attend our events, you will emerge from VentureBeat with new knowledge, perspective, influences, and connections. News: We live, breathe, and cover transformative technology — from AI to gaming, small business to enterprise, AR/VR to 5G, and more. Newsletters: Want to stay on top of the latest without leaving your inbox? We send you all the news and analysis you need — and nothing more — with our daily and weekly newsletters. Events: Whether it’s one of our large flagship events, or an intimate private gathering, our events are always authentic, unique, in-person experiences formed around innovative technology, discussions, and ideas.
Experience · 33 entries
All (33)
Investments (21)
Founder (4)
2024
Managing Director
Mar 2024
Sankhara is a private equity fund dedicated to collecting, protecting and preserving the human experience through extraordinary physical assets.
2022
Investor
2022
Midnight Society is a new kind of AAA game development and publishing studio over a decade in the making. We see a future in which developers no longer create experiences in a vacuum and players share in a game’s success.Built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, we are focused on delivering our new title - Deadrop as the most community-focused, online PVP multiplayer experience the world has ever seen. We are a group of ambitious game industry veterans headed by Sumit Gupta (multiple gaming and esports exits ), Guy Beahm (DrDisRespect one of the biggest gaming influencers), Robert Bowling (Creative Strategist Call of Duty) and Quinn DelHoyo (Lead Sandbox Designer Halo) and backed by several prominent venture capital firms, angel investors, and influential strategic partners. Since launching Dec 2021, we have grown to 35+ including some of the veteran leaders within the AAA Gaming industry. Our Day Zero Community exploded from the moment we announced our intentions - within 8 months of launch we have over 500k Midnight Society accounts and followers across social media confirming that the gaming community shares our vision for what’s possible.
early stageComputer Games
2020
Pacecar, Inc
Founder
Jan 2020
2019
Founder
2019
Our mission is to help strengthen the bonds between new and existing relationships. Make your best first impression at sparrows.co
Investor
2019
Experimental builds amazing blockchain-based games. The company developed the first fully decentralized strategy game on earth, CryptoWars.
Show all 33 entries ↓
Investment activity
2006–2022 · 21 investments
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