Jun 2025 – Sep 2025 · 3 mos · Dubai, United Arab Emirates · On-site

• Deploying US$20 billion to build AI infrastructure capacity across 11 counties in Europe. Asia, and North America
• Building overarching foundational playbook for data center platform for scalability and operational excellence
• Partnering in platform diversification into consumption-based neo-cloud, GPU-as-service offering for hyperscalers and AI labs
• Driving governance of AI joint ventures with telecom companies and power producers ensuring financial, regulatory and strategic alignment
• Spearheading partnership with acquisition, investment, sales, design, project development, and operations teams to deliver end-to-end value creation across data center life cycle

Nov 2022 – Jun 2025 · 2 yrs 7 mos

• Cricheroes is the world's largest cricket network

Nov 2022 – Jun 2025 · 2 yrs 7 mos · Mumbai Metropolitan Region

• Games24x7 Ventures is the corporate investment arm of Games24x7, launched with the aim to support early stage start-ups at the intersection of technology and interactive entertainment space in India

Apr 2020 – Jun 2025 · 5 yrs 2 mos · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

• Games24x7 is India's largest multi-gaming unicorn with 150M+ users and GTV of over $5 billion. During Rahul's 5 year tenure the platform grew 4x and diversified from a monline skill gaming business (rummycircle) to become the 2nd largest fantasy sports player

May 2018 – Apr 2020 · 1 yr 11 mos · Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

• Key member of leadership team at Quikr – multi-category digital classifieds unicorn. Focused on building high performance culture for the next stage of growth
• Drive 360⁰ operational effectiveness across 5 hyper growth platforms (Real Estate, Auto, Jobs, Used Goods and Services); lead strategic planning and budgeting, ERP transformation projects, and performance analytics
• Closed 4 strategic acquisitions (HDFC Realty, Zefo, IndiaProperty, DoSeat) to support Quikr’s transformation into an O2O transaction-driven player
• Steered 2x growth in the overall business while turning-around 50% of the revenue streams; led capital allocation, business restructuring, subsidiary mergers, and drove M&A and alliances/partnerships initiatives
• Raised $70MM growth capital across equity, venture/bank debt and channel financing; led investor relations
• Managed internal and statutory reporting; established process controls and risk management framework

Apr 2016 – Apr 2018 · 2 yrs · Mumbai Area, India

• Led strategic and financial advisory practice including equity capital markets, M&A , venture capital and private equity transactions for the Technology Sector.
• Key transactions: IPOs- L&T Infotech, Matrimony, Newgen, Quess; PE- Actis/PineLabs, Homelane/Barings
• Areas of coverage included Information Technology Services, Business Process Management, Software Products, Internet/Digital and Technology Hardware companies.

Jun 2009 – Mar 2016 · 6 yrs 9 mos · Mumbai Area, India

• Starting from scratch, established a specialist investment bank to focus on (a) cross-border strategic transactions including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures (b) innovative financing solutions including venture capital, growth equity, mezzanine capital, senior debt and trade finance
• Successfully created a diverse client base consisting of blue chip Indian companies, multinational corporations, financial sponsors, high growth mid-size companies and early stage ventures
• Complete P&L management responsibility; set up offices in 4 locations, hired and developed a multi-faceted advisory team and expanded senior partnership, and established end-to-end ‘transaction management system’
• Created revenue streams across multiple sectors including Energy, Infrastructure, Hospitality, Financial Services, Industrial and Technology; developed extensive global network of institutional investors, lenders and MNCs
• Mentored early stage ventures on strategic planning, business model evaluation, marketing and funding

Jan 2006 – Jan 2008 · 2 yrs · New York City Metropolitan Area

• Covered clients in the Diversified Media and Consumer Internet sectors
• Successfully closed innovative transactions for marquee clients including IAC, Disney, Live Nation, eBay, Monster, Priceline, Expedia, Infonxx, BabyUniverse and SPACs
• Responsibilities included generating new business, maintaining client relationships, executing and negotiating transactions
• Advised on a broad range of investment banking transactions including buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions, leveraged buyouts, public equity, equity-linked, and high-grade and high-yield debt issuance
• Advised client’s senior management on evaluation of strategic opportunities, managed operating and financial due diligence processes, led transaction structuring and valuation, and coordinated new client development

Jan 2004 – Jan 2006 · 2 yrs · New York City Metropolitan Area

• Helped build an investment banking group from startup covering clients in Industrial Technology and Electronics Supply Chain sector
• Closed several financing transactions for large EMS clients including Flextronics, Celestica, Plexus, and Amephenol
• Created industry landscape and successfully on-boarded new clients including large cap and emerging corporates for the firm
• Developed broad based revenue stream including M&A transactions and equity and debt underwriting deals in new sectors

Jan 2002 – Jan 2004 · 2 yrs · Basking Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.

• Led and executed all aspects of M&A transactions from initial due diligence through contract negotiation
• Evaluated strategic opportunities and communicated recommendations to Avaya’s senior leadership team
• Coordinated large multi-functional due diligence teams consisting of line management, legal, finance, accounting, tax, HR and external advisers; identified potential synergy opportunities, business and integration risks
• Developed integrated valuation models, performed pro forma combination analyses and in-depth valuation of synergies
• “Excellence Award” for contribution to corporate development; ranked among top 5% in performance review
• Successfully closed several strategic transactions including $350M sale of Avaya's structured cabling business to Commscope, $150M acquisition of Expanets from Northwestern, acquisition of controlling stake in publicly listed Tata Telecom in India, $635M acquisition of Tenovis from KKR, purchase of Vista Technologies from GTCR and minority investment in Extreme Networks

Jan 2001 – Jan 2002 · 1 yr · New York City Metropolitan Area

• Worked as M&A generalist; executed several advisory mandates, valued over $3B, in energy and telecom sectors
• Developed advanced financial models including discounted cash flow, merger, and leveraged buy-out models
• Coordinated transaction due diligence processes, client coverage, and financial analysis

Jan 1997 – Jan 1999 · 2 yrs · Mumbai Metropolitan Region

• Key member of 5-person team hired to establish KPMG’s presence in infrastructure sector including power, roads, ports, water and urban infrastructure
• Advised multinational corporations and domestic companies on feasibility and financing alternatives for BOT projects along with bidding strategy
• Provided consulting services to government agencies on privatization issues including concession agreements, tariff structures, demand assessment, and risk allocation

Jan 1996 – Jan 1997 · 1 yr · Mumbai Metropolitan Region

• Worked on asset-based project financing for several projects in energy and infrastructure sectors
• Carried out detailed financial and credit appraisal for greenfield projects. Negotiated loan covenants and monitored credit quality of debt portfolio