Rick Desai
Managing Partner at Listen Ventures
About
Rick Desai is Managing Partner at Listen Ventures, a brand-focused venture capital firm backing consumer-obsessed founders. Listen has invested in companies including Factor, Calm, KiwiCo, Rugiet, Own Up, Drink Delta, and Angel’s Envy. Prior to Listen, Rick founded Dashfire, a startup studio that supported the launch of EverTrue (acquired), Artifact Uprising (acquired), and Raken (acquired). Beyond investing, Rick teaches a “startup school” course at the Kellogg School of Management, focused on launching napkin-stage startups using modern, AI-enabled tools. His earlier career includes investment banking at Lehman Brothers, private equity at Madison Dearborn Partners, and a William J. Clinton Fellowship in India. How Rick Can Help: 1. Design and run real-world tests to validate product–market fit and de-risk new ventures 2. Navigate early-stage fundraising with a consumer and brand-focused VC lens 3. Sharpen founder storytelling, positioning, and investor pitch strategy 4. Build brand-led consumer businesses with durable unit economics 5. Level up board and investor management to get more value from capital partners
Experience
Managing Partner
Listen Ventures, Jan 2016 – Present
Managing Partner & Co-Founder
Dashfire, Jul 2009 – Present
Adjunct Professor
Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, Jan 2017 – Present