Deepa Sapatnekar — Design Manager

I am a creative, disciplined, and driven Marketing and Communications executive with experience in venture capital, startups, and digital native organizations. I bring proven expertise in marketing, communications, and brand strategy. I have advised both sides of the startup ecosystem, collaborating with venture funds on branding, PR, and communication strategies, while also working with hyper-growth companies on marketing and communications. Technology and design have been the two constants in my professional life. I bring a creative and analytical approach to marketing, through my background in business development and operations, consistently fostering strong cross-industry and cross-cultural relationships. My professional journey spans key APAC markets, including Singapore, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, and MENA, where I’ve driven impactful results. As a member of the India leadership team at LinkedIn, I was a trusted advisor for strategic counsel and a dedicated leader, committed to nurturing high-performing teams. My marketing and communications journey is an ongoing evolution. At IBM, I refined marketing and communications processes and structures. At LinkedIn, I focused on scaling communications through the journey from a startup to IPO and eventually being acquired by Microsoft. I then transitioned into the Venture Capital space, collaborating with Kalaari, General Catalyst, Bessemer and Inflexor. Currently, I advise a startup, a SaaS community, and a venture capital firm, continuing to apply my expertise in strategic marketing and communications.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Marketing and Communications expert with extensive experience in Venture Capital and SaaS industries.

Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Experience: 25 yrs 3 mos

Skills

Marketing Strategy
Branding & Identity
Corporate Communications
Stakeholder Management
Social Media
Communication

Career Highlights

Led marketing strategies for multiple high-growth startups.
Revamped communications for Bessemer, enhancing brand visibility.
Drove LinkedIn's growth from startup to IPO.

Work Experience

Inflexor Ventures

Director of Marketing (2 yrs 9 mos)

Bessemer Venture Partners

Head Of Marketing (1 yr 3 mos)

Consultant

Brand, Marketing, Communications and Social (2 yrs)

Board Member, LinkedIn for Good Foundation (1 yr 11 mos)

Brand, Communications and Social Impact, India | Head of Consumer PR, APAC (9 yrs 8 mos)

IBM

Head of Marketing (2 yrs 6 mos)

Compulink

Head, Marketing Communications (1 yr 3 mos)

HSBC Global Technology India through Media Matters

Corporate Communications Consultant (3 mos)

Indoglobal Group of Companies

Business Analyst (6 mos)

NextStep Infotech Pvt. Ltd.

Business Development Manager (6 mos)

P&O Nedlloyd IT Services Pvt Ltd

Team Leader, Export Documentation, North America and Canada (3 yrs 4 mos)

Nisha's Design House

Manager and Partner, Business Development (1 yr 4 mos)

Oracle Institute of Fashion Design

Faculty, Fashion Design and Illustration (2 yrs 8 mos)

Education

Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Master of Computer Management at Savitribai Phule Pune University

Bachelor of Commerce at BMCC - Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce

SSC at Abhinava Vidyalaya English Medium High School

Deepa Sapatnekar

Design Manager

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India25 yrs 3 mos experience

Highly Stable

Key Highlights

Led marketing strategies for multiple high-growth startups.
Revamped communications for Bessemer, enhancing brand visibility.
Drove LinkedIn's growth from startup to IPO.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Marketing and Communications expert with extensive experience in Venture Capital and SaaS industries.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Marketing StrategyBranding & IdentityCorporate CommunicationsStakeholder ManagementSocial MediaCommunication

Other Skills

Analyst RelationsBloggingBusiness DevelopmentCanvaCommunication TrainingContent DevelopmentContent StrategyCrisis CommunicationsCustomer ServiceDigital MarketingDigital StrategyEditingEmotional IntelligenceEvent ManagementExecutive Communications

About

Experience

25 yrs 3 mos

Total Experience

2 yrs 3 mos

Average Tenure

Current Experience

Inflexor ventures

Director of Marketing

Aug 2023 – Present · 2 yrs 9 mos · Bangalore Urban, Karnataka, India · Hybrid

I head marketing for Inflexor Ventures, and lead initiatives across brand positioning, multi-channel messaging, fund marketing, PR, and media relations.
I also provide guidance on branding, marketing, and communications to a startup and a SaaS community. At Event HQ, an event marketing SaaS platform, I oversee corporate marketing strategies and drive global communications. With SaaS Insider, one of India’s leading SaaS communities, I manage their flagship annual conferences, advise on partner acquisition, and oversee digital and social communication efforts.

Emotional IntelligencePublic RelationsMarketing StrategyBranding & IdentityCorporate CommunicationsSocial Media

Bessemer venture partners

Head Of Marketing

Apr 2022 – Jul 2023 · 1 yr 3 mos · Bengaluru, Karnataka, India · On-site

As the Marketing, Communications, and Social Leader for Bessemer in India, I revamped their communications strategy, increasing their share of voice in the Indian market within my first month. I developed and executed their social media strategy, including launching Bessemer India’s Twitter handle, and designed marketing materials using Canva. In addition to managing all events, I successfully organized six high-impact events within just two months at the start of 2023, driving brand visibility and engagement across key stakeholders.
At Bessemer, I also collaborated with portfolio companies to enhance their marketing and branding efforts. I led the rebranding of a B2B company with $50M ARR, managed funding, M&A, and product launch announcements, and served as the go-to advisor for crisis communications. My contributions ensured consistent and impactful messaging across the portfolio and for Bessemer, strengthening brand positioning and market presence.

Emotional IntelligenceStakeholder ManagementCommunicationExecutive LeadershipCanvaMarketing Strategy

Consultant

Brand, Marketing, Communications and Social

Apr 2020 – Apr 2022 · 2 yrs · Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Consulting with startups, VCs and SMEs for their brand, social, marketing and communications strategies. I was privileged to work with Kalaari Capital to launch the CXXO initiative, help Notion announce their Automate acquisition news and work with General Catalyst for their leadership visit to India.

Stakeholder ManagementCommunicationExecutive Leadership

2 roles

Board Member, LinkedIn for Good Foundation

Jan 2013 – Dec 2014 · 1 yr 11 mos · Mumbai Area, India

Served two years on the Board of 'LinkedIn for Good'. Spoke at various events on how non-profits can leverage social media. Currently serve on the CSR working committee in India
July 1, 2014 | Delhi, India | Social media for Non profits at GlobalGiving's 2014 Summit

Emotional IntelligenceStakeholder ManagementCommunicationExecutive Leadership

Brand, Communications and Social Impact, India | Head of Consumer PR, APAC

Jul 2010 – Mar 2020 · 9 yrs 8 mos · Mumbai Area, India

As part of the start-up team for LinkedIn India, I’ve been responsible for driving brand awareness of the platform. When i joined LinkedIn, i was the 6th employee and we had 5 million members in India. Today we are well over 64 million and our team has mushroomed!
I am thrilled to have been part of the company's journey from a start-up, to the IPO run and subsequent listing in May 2011. At LinkedIn, I have had the privilege of launching the India Tech Center (Nov 2011) and the Dubai office (Oct 2012). Additionally, I also managed the overall communications strategy for Korea for over two years and Dubai for a year. In 2016, I was overseeing 5 media agencies and 40+ staff in India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

Emotional IntelligenceStakeholder ManagementCommunicationExecutive LeadershipBranding & Identity

Ibm

Head of Marketing

Jan 2008 – Jul 2010 · 2 yrs 6 mos · Bengaluru Area, India

Reporting to the CEO, headed the Marketing & Communications function for Network Solutions (also known as Netsol), collaborating with functional colleagues worldwide. Was also responsible for all internal and executive communications for Netsol. In 2009, I was given the additional responsibility of analyst communications and managing the web presence for IBM Global Technology Services business unit.

Emotional IntelligenceStakeholder ManagementCommunicationExecutive Leadership

Compulink

Head, Marketing Communications

Oct 2006 – Jan 2008 · 1 yr 3 mos · Pune Area, India

Reported directly to the CEO, managed the global Marketing and Communications function for this Project Management Services Company, based out of Pune, India

CommunicationExecutive Leadership

Hsbc global technology india through media matters

Corporate Communications Consultant

Jun 2006 – Sep 2006 · 3 mos · Pune Area, India

Consulted with HSBC for internal communications, introducing strategic messaging via feeds for LED TVs and desktop tickers

Communication

Indoglobal group of companies

Business Analyst

Dec 2005 – Jun 2006 · 6 mos · Pune Area, India

Wore many hats at this start-up group. Spearheaded the creation of the group's presence on the internet, designed and rolled out corporate and marketing collateral.

Communication

Nextstep infotech pvt. ltd.

Business Development Manager

Jun 2005 – Dec 2005 · 6 mos · Pune, India

Reporting directly to the CEO, led the Marketing and Communication strategy pan India. During my tenure, I also worked on proposals and facilitated zonal heads to achieve their targets.

P&o nedlloyd it services pvt ltd

Team Leader, Export Documentation, North America and Canada

Feb 2002 – Jun 2005 · 3 yrs 4 mos · Pune Area, India

Led two teams handling export documentation for North America (Houston and Canada)

Nisha's design house

Manager and Partner, Business Development

Oct 2000 – Feb 2002 · 1 yr 4 mos · Pune Area, India

Being one of the Managing Directors, was directly responsible for the P&L of this design unit. Also introduced new business lines like Jewelry design and taking on projects like designing Jewelry for Femina Miss India contestants.