Tim Guleri
Managing Partner·Sierra Ventures
Bio
Professional summary
Tim Guleri is a Managing Partner at Sierra Ventures. Before joining the firm, he built two software infrastructure companies: Scopus Technology, which went public in 1995, and Octane Software, which was acquired by Epiphany. He joined Sierra in 2001 as Managing Director and has focused on Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. His official profile says he helped take Sourcefire and MakeMyTrip public and has been responsible for multiple M&A outcomes. His founder-facing guidance emphasizes enterprise workflow fit, measurable ROI, market and customer preparation, and founder grit.
Investment focus
Stage, sector, and overall fit
Stage
Sector
Thesis
Notable companies
Selected portfolio companies the partner has backed
How to approach
Framing and angles for outreach
Pitch framing
Show a concrete enterprise AI workflow with measurable ROI, customer pain, competitive awareness, and why the founding team has unusual grit.
Partneralization hooks
- 1Reference his background as a repeat software infrastructure founder when discussing technical company-building challenges.
- 2Avoid vague AI language; focus on deployment in real enterprise environments.
Recent signals
What the partner has said or done recently
Official profile includes content titled 'The AI Layer Cake: Where the Real Opportunity Lies in Enterprise AI'.
Official profile lists Select Recent Investments including Eudia, Siena, ProductNow, Weav.ai, and Cimulate.
Background
Career, education, and skills
Career history
- Sierra VenturesManaging Partner2001 – Present
- Octane Software (acquired by Epiphany, $3.2B)Founder/CEOPrior to 2001
- Scopus Technology (IPO 1995)Founder/CEOPrior
Education
- PEC University of Technology, IndiaB.A. Electrical Engineering
- Virginia TechM.S. IEOR/Robotics
Skills
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