Managing Partner
Leader in multinational public companies with expertise in creating value in the digital economy, having operated businesses now valued over $100Bn and invested in companies now valued over $10Bn. Past President at Reliance Jio (BSE:RIL), India’s largest conglomerate in digital platforms and commerce.
Prior CEO India and Global Leadership of Aimia Inc (TSX:AIM), world’s largest data-driven marketing company. Led SaaS and managed services in emerging markets (India, Indonesia, Portugal) and built & sold businesses in e-commerce (Nectar to Jio), and analytics (Fractal as strategic PE to Apax). Previously, a successful entrepreneur, having run businesses in luxury retail, investment banking, business intelligence, digital mapping, and high-tech security across US and Asia.
One of India’s earliest investors in venture capital and founder of family office fund, Pivot Ventures. Investor in 60+ companies with 10+ unicorns / IPOs / exits.
Alumnus, Harvard Business School and MBA, University of Pittsburgh and University of Bombay. Also Co-President, Harvard Alumni Club of Mumbai and a National Award winning photographer.
Managing Director
Dushyant has over 25 years of leadership experience in strategy and corporate finance, and has advised on 60+ private equity and M&A deals involving investments of over $3.5 billion.
Prior to joining Playbook, Dushyant held leadership roles in the private equity and financial advisory practices at McKinsey & Company, Deloitte, PwC and KPMG. In addition to supporting leading fund houses on investments and exits, has also assist4ed companies on market entry, growth, M&A, cost-reduction and organisation development. His sector experience covers IT, Media, Consumer, B2B, Healthcare and Financial Services. He earlier led Digital Media at IBM for India and ASEAN regions, and worked in strategy at Indian Express Newspapers.
Dushyant holds an MBA from IIM Calcutta and a B.Com from Sydenham College, Mumbai.
When he’s not counselling portfolio company CEOs, Dushyant roams the jungles of India, camera in hand, in search of big cats.
Executive Director & Venture Partner
15 years of experience in India’s venture capital ecosystem with investments in Enterprise Software, Consumer tech and B2B marketplaces. Earlier a Senior Partner at Sistema Asia Fund – a mid-stage, India-focused firm with investments in technology companies across sectors; led investments into Uniphore, Infra.Market, ANSR and Exotel. Before that, as Partner at Kalaari Capital, led investments in startups including Hiver, Vakilsearch, Mettl, Industrybuying etc.
Prior to his investing career, Sumit was an Investment Banker at HSBC India, advising domestic and foreign corporate clients for M&As, acquisition financing and assisting them with equity and capital market fund raising activities. Earlier, Sumit worked at BG Group (acquired by Royal Dutch Shell Plc) as an Economist.
Sumit holds an MBA from IIM Calcutta and a B-Tech from IIT Kharagpur.
Sumit along with his colleague won the inter-VC Bertelsmann Badminton Championship in 2017 and a semi-finalist in 2023. He is also a poker enthusiast and an avid Formula1 follower.
Associate
Prior to joining Playbook, Shivam was part of the growth equity investment team at Iron Pillar, where he evaluated deals across enterprise SaaS, consumer technology, fintech, healthcare and logistics, deploying $60M+ across 5 companies. Shivam started his career in New York at BlackRock, within the Client Portfolio Solutions group that focused on portfolio construction and asset allocation to meet institutional client's needs for whole portfolio approaches. He holds a BA. Applied Mathematics-Economics and Theatre Arts & Performance Studies from Brown University.
Shivam's idea of relaxation varies between 10-day silent meditation retreats and boxing workout classes.
Associate
Aquilia has over 8 years of experience across start-ups and multinational corporations in India, Australia and Singapore.
She began her career at JP Morgan in Sydney, in the Private Equity and Real Estate Services team, providing portfolio and performance analytics of alternative assets for superannuation and sovereign wealth funds. Thereafter, she was part of the founding team at BayTree Ventures, a marketplace for impact investing. At BayTree, she collaborated with founders and investors to catalyze investment capital towards impact enterprises in India. She graduated as valedictorian from SP Jain School of Global Management with a BBA specializing in Finance, and has successfully completed all three levels of the CFA Program.
Aquilia thrives on the thrill of diverse adventures, from clinching a podium position at Redbull Soapbox Race India 2024, to raising funds for charity through music gigs and baking cupcakes, to singing in an acapella group at the Sydney Eisteddfod.
VP, Finance
A Financial professional with 15 years of experience in finance, accounting, compliance, taxation and administration with prestigious Indian and multinational organizations, like Mecklai Financial Services and Aimia India Loyalty Management. Proven track record of optimizing financial performance, streamlining operations, and driving growth for diverse organizations. Adept at working with Big 4 to implement best practices in financial management, risk assessment, and compliance across operating companies. Also managed valuations and reporting for SEBI registered AIFs, family office investment funds like Pivot Ventures. He is a Post Graduate in Business Administration (specialisation in Finance) from Symbiosis Pune.
Avil is so passionate about cricket that he would stop to watch even if he saw a cat and dog playing the game while walking by.
Admin Manager
A professional with over 16 years of experience, spanning the Private Equity, Venture Capital, Investment Banking and Loyalty Management spaces. Prior to joining Playbook Partners, Anahita has worked for top management in organizations such as TPG Capital and TPG Growth, Q-India Investment Advisors, BanyanTree Finance, AIMIA India Loyalty Management and Vox Law. She excels in the field of office administration and management, HR support, calendar and travel management and event coordination, and has been the primary point of contact in all the organizations, liaising with global stakeholders, consultants, legal, advisory, finance and research teams.
Anahita is an advocate for animal welfare, having volunteered at an animal shelter for over 7 years and is passionate about travel and most especially, the sea.
Executive Assistant
With 20 years of experience in Venture Capital and Investment Banking. Prior to joining Playbook Partners, Khushnum has worked with top management in organizations such Lightbox India Advisors Pvt Ltd, Avendus & IL&FS Investsmart.
She excels in the field of office administration and management, calendar and travel management and event coordination.
Khushnum loves to travel and explore new places.
Analyst
Sanya is a qualified chartered accountant with a background in finance and investments. Before joining Playbook, she was part of the investments team at Z3Partners, an early-growth VC fund, where she evaluated deals across various sectors. She began her career in audit and compliance for companies in manufacturing, financial services, and Education during her articleship.
Sanya has completed Level 1 of the Financial Risk Management course from the Global Association of Risk Professionals and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from Jai Hind College in Mumbai.
In her free time, Sanya enjoys chess, swimming, and poker.