Raghu Rao

Raghu Rao is a parallel entrepreneur, strategic business advisor and investor in impactful deeptech ventures. Rao is the Chair and interim CEO of Guidant Bio focusing on reducing systemic toxicity of cancer drugs via its patented Navigated Delivery platform. He is a founding partner of Maatra, a global quant fund leveraging AI to generate true alpha while managing downside risk. Rao has founded, scaled and had successful exits with several technology companies: – InfoZen.com (AI/Analytics-based Background Screening Solutions for Government, 1995-2008, acquired by ManTech), – ImageProVision.com (AI-based pharmaceutical drug Quality by Design solutions using particle morphology 2021-now), – CellixBio.com (Innovative Drug Development, 100+ patents, brought to US from India in 2016), – KovidGroup.com (AI-based Solutions in Law Enforcement, 2016-2018, acquired by Kaliber.ai), – WizNucleus.com (Cyber Security Compliance Solutions in Energy Sector, co-founded in 2010), and – PaperBatteryCo.com (Nanotech Energy Storage, 2009-2018, rights acquired by PRC Tech). In his 35-year career, Rao has led teams for management, operations and oversight for clients in GovTech, BioTech, Publishing, and Energy sectors. Rao has advised clients on the strategy and roll-out of high-profile projects, such as USA.gov, TSA.gov Screening Gateway, Cancer.gov and other eGovernment initiatives. As the Vistage.com Princeton Chair, Rao ran three high-performing peer advisory boards for middle-market CEOs and business leaders of companies with total revenues exceeding $2 Billion. As the CEO of InfoZen, Rao has managed over $1 Billion in U.S. Federal Government contracts. Rao is a Charter Member of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE.org) and a patron of Indiaspora. He has held board/advisor positions at SonnetBio.com, CurioDigitalTx.com, SplitByte.com, CellixBio.com, WizNucleus.com, InfoZen.com, and PaperBattery.com Rao is active in social entrepreneurship and community service. He co-founded the Hindu Jewish Coalition in 2012 and has held non-profit board positions at the Infinity Foundation (New Jersey), the Family Services Agency (Maryland) and several others. Rao has contributed and raised several million dollars in support of causes such as education and healthcare of tribal children in India, preservation of indigenous knowledge traditions worldwide. Rao has an MS in Computer Science from Virginia Tech, BTech. in Electrical Engineering from IIT, Madras and an MBA /Finance from George Washington University. Rao has completed the NACD / CERT Certificate in Cybersecurity Oversight.