Strategic Exits: Building Startups That Get Bought
Join us for an intimate mentoring session where Raghu Bala, a seasoned technology entrepreneur, shares valuable insights from his extensive experience with startup exits, product innovation, and navigating complex industry dynamics. This candid, founder-focused conversation will explore the practical realities of building successful ventures—from strategic pivots and fundraising to leveraging cutting-edge technologies like Generative AI and Blockchain. Whether you're launching your first startup or scaling your business, this session promises actionable advice and behind-the-scenes lessons that transcend typical playbooks.
Raghu Bala is the Founder of Synergetics.ai, an AI startup based in Orange County, California. An experienced technology entrepreneur, Raghu has achieved four successful startup exits and previously held roles at Yahoo, Infospace, Automotive.com, and PwC.
He holds an MBA in Finance from Wharton, an MS in Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and degrees in Math and Computer Science from SUNY Buffalo. Raghu is the Head Managing Instructor at 2U, facilitating courses in AI, Blockchain, and Decentralized Finance at MIT Sloan, an Adjunct Professor at VIT (India), and a Deeptech Mentor at IIT Madras.
A published author and frequent contributor to tech publications, Raghu co-authored "Handbook on Blockchain" (Springer-Verlag) and served as a contributing editor for "Step into the Metaverse" (John Wiley Press). He regularly speaks at global technology and business conferences.
His current focus areas include Agentic AI, Autonomous Agents, Generative AI, IoT, and the Metaverse, with industry expertise spanning Automotive, Retail, Logistics, Healthcare, and Insurance.