Surge Ventures Team
We’re a team of dreamers and doers who value integrity, creativity, and collaboration. We are passionate about helping entrepreneurs build the next-generation ComplyTech and PrivacyTech SaaS companies. We provide the right team with extensive experience in both technology and business. Along with our mentoring, guidance, and funding, we’re committed to helping you take your idea from concept to reality.
Founder & CEO
Sid Yenamandra
Sid Yenamandra is a highly accomplished and exceptionally talented entrepreneur and executive with a proven track record of success in the field of cybersecurity and technology. He has founded and successfully exited three startups, leaving a lasting impact on the industry with each venture. His most notable achievement is the founding and leadership of Entreda, a company that quickly rose to become the top provider of cybersecurity compliance software to financial services firms. Under Sid’s guidance, Entreda was acquired by K1 Capital and RegTech Unicorn Smarsh in 2020, and he served as CEO for two years post-acquisition. During this time, Sid also led the company in acquiring Privva, a leading provider of third party vendor risk management software, and took over the role of running Smarsh’s wealth management business, a $100M ARR business. He also served as the head of the customer success organization for all Smarsh products.
Sid’s impressive track record also includes key leadership roles at Plato Networks, where he served as VP of Product and Marketing, and PacketFX. During his time at Plato Networks, the company was acquired by publicly-traded Netlogic Microsystems in 2010, and later by Fortune 500 company Broadcom for a staggering $4B in 2012. This sale speaks to Sid’s exceptional ability to drive growth and innovation, and his expertise in building and scaling successful businesses.
In addition to his successes in the tech industry, Sid has also made significant contributions to the field of cybersecurity through his work with the NSA. He led a program with an elite team to accelerate Suite B cryptographic algorithms with integrated compression for the agency’s Information Assurance directorate in solutions approved for protecting National Security Systems (NSS).
With dual B.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UC Berkeley and two software patents and numerous publications to his name, Sid is a highly respected and accomplished figure in the tech industry, known for his unparalleled expertise in cybersecurity and his ability to develop and implement innovative solutions for some of the most complex and challenging problems facing our world today
Founder & CEO
Sid Yenamandra
Sid Yenamandra is a highly accomplished and exceptionally talented entrepreneur and executive with a proven track record of success in the field of cybersecurity and technology. He has founded and successfully exited three startups, leaving a lasting impact on the industry with each venture. His most notable achievement is the founding and leadership of Entreda, a company that quickly rose to become the top provider of cybersecurity compliance software to financial services firms. Under Sid’s guidance, Entreda was acquired by K1 Capital and RegTech Unicorn Smarsh in 2020, and he served as CEO for two years post-acquisition. During this time, Sid also led the company in acquiring Privva, a leading provider of third party vendor risk management software, and took over the role of running Smarsh’s wealth management business, a $100M ARR business. He also served as the head of the customer success organization for all Smarsh products.
Sid’s impressive track record also includes key leadership roles at Plato Networks, where he served as VP of Product and Marketing, and PacketFX. During his time at Plato Networks, the company was acquired by publicly-traded Netlogic Microsystems in 2010, and later by Fortune 500 company Broadcom for a staggering $4B in 2012. This sale speaks to Sid’s exceptional ability to drive growth and innovation, and his expertise in building and scaling successful businesses.
In addition to his successes in the tech industry, Sid has also made significant contributions to the field of cybersecurity through his work with the NSA. He led a program with an elite team to accelerate Suite B cryptographic algorithms with integrated compression for the agency’s Information Assurance directorate in solutions approved for protecting National Security Systems (NSS).
With dual B.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UC Berkeley and two software patents and numerous publications to his name, Sid is a highly respected and accomplished figure in the tech industry, known for his unparalleled expertise in cybersecurity and his ability to develop and implement innovative solutions for some of the most complex and challenging problems facing our world today
Founding Investors Virgo Capital
Virgo Capital is a private equity firm based in Austin, Texas focused on making investments in established software and technology-enabled services companies. Virgo Capital targets companies with strong customer relationships and domain expertise and actively adds value by leveraging the team’s extensive experience in areas such as operations, finance, technology, sales and marketing, and mergers and acquisitions.
Virgo Capital manages total capital commitments of over $100 million. The Limited Partners of the Funds are institutions, family offices, and individuals who are all seasoned private equity investors. Many of the LPs are highly-respected leaders in industries such as banking, insurance, energy, health care, and software.
Virgo Capital has made eleven platform investments to date plus several add-on acquisitions made by its portfolio companies. Virgo successfully exited five of these investments with cumulative exit value of well over $300 million.
Hemanth Parasuram
Managing Director
Guhan Swaminathan
Managing Director
Expert Advisory Board
Surge has established an Advisory Board comprised of seasoned executives and influencers from across the FinTech and wealth management sectors. The Board will serve as strategic counselors to Surge’s leadership as the firm executes its unique vision and growth plans. Some of the inaugural members of the Board include:
Jason Lish
Chief Security Officer Lumen Technologies
Larry Roth
Managing Partner RLR Strategic Partners
Neil Daswani
PhD Chief Information Security Officer, QuantumScape Co-Director of Stanford's Advanced Cybersecurity Program
Matthew Martin
SVP & Deputy Chief Information Security Officer LPL Financial
John Rostern
Sr. Vice President NCC Group
Geoff Moore
CIO – Valmark Financial Group
Brian Johnson
Technology and CyberSecurity Executive, Investor, Advisor
Lamont Orange
Chief Information Security Officer Netskope
Ray Everett
Data Protection Officer & First Chief Privacy Officer
Jason Lish
Chief Security Officer Lumen Technologies
Larry Roth
Managing Partner RLR Strategic Partners
Neil Daswani
PhD Chief Information Security Officer, QuantumScape Co-Director of Stanford's Advanced Cybersecurity Program
Matthew Martin
SVP & Deputy Chief Information Security Officer LPL Financial
John Rostern
Sr. Vice President NCC Group
Geoff Moore
CIO – Valmark Financial Group
Brian Johnson
Technology and CyberSecurity Executive, Investor, Advisor
Lamont Orange
Chief Information Security Officer Netskope
Ray Everett
Data Protection Officer & First Chief Privacy Officer Avellino Lab
