LAKSHMAN MANTHA

Growing up in Visakhapatnam, India, I tagged along with my parents to beach cleanups and wildlife campaigns, the earliest seeds of the Dolphin Nature Conservation Society. Service felt natural, like something I was shaped for before I knew what to call it.<br><br>I came to the US for computer science. Cisco, Juniper, then six years as Employee #17 at Avi Networks building the industry's first software load balancer from scratch. Six more at VMware (which acquired Avi) and Broadcom (which acquired VMware), scaling teams and infrastructure serving millions globally.<br><br>But the work that gave me the most satisfaction ran alongside the career. Through the Sathya Sai International Organization, I spent Wednesday evenings at a homeless shelter, teaching computer skills and job readiness to people rebuilding their lives after incarceration. Within months, the first person got a job. I went on to lead regional and national Young Adults teams of 40+ people from 2015 to 2022, and that is where I actually learned to lead: listening, running one-on-ones, managing volunteers across 10 regions, and building teams where people show up because they want to, not because they have to.<br><br>Wharton was my way of getting out of my comfort zone, studying alongside peers from 41 countries, crawling through cement pipes at a Quantico Marine Corps leadership intensive, and doing things I would never have done otherwise. Growth lies in discomfort. I focused on Business Analytics/AI and Operations & Marketing, and graduated with honors.<br><br>I have run the San Francisco marathon or half marathon every year for 18 consecutive years and mentored 100+ first-time runners (through Team Asha and on my own) to their first finish line.<br><br>In 2025, I left an 18-year career to build what I believe matters.<br>Crewmatic is AI-native software for restoration contractors, scoping jobs, documenting damage, and getting them paid faster. Co-founded with Brett, a working contractor whose own past jobs are our backtest set.<br>Raya is a Public Benefit Corporation giving nonprofits one platform for donor data, campaigns, and analytics. Because the organizations doing the most good shouldn't have the worst tech.<br>Sieve (under ArceusX Ventures) is an autonomous digital VC analyst. Pitch deck in, evidence-typed investment memo out, 5 minutes. Built originally for B2L Capital, the data-driven angel syndicate I co-founded with my brother during Wharton.<br><br>After nearly two decades writing code and building systems, the last six leading teams, I now manage AI agents and build products. The skills are the same: listening to users, understanding problems, orchestrating outcomes. The medium changed, the craft didn't.<br><br>Tabla player. Daily yoga. Still learning. Still serving. One step at a time.