Cherry Ventures has today announced the promotion of operator-turned-investor Dinika Mahtani to the level of partner.
Mahtani was instrumental in the establishment of UberEats EMEA and served as general manager at Uber’s JUMP e-bike product in the UK. Post-Uber, Matani served as director of finance and operations at climate tech startup Kaluza, an initiative of the Bristol-based energy supplier OVO group, that focuses on intelligent grid technology.
Joining Cherry in late 2021, Dinika has led the firm’s UK investment strategy, investing in software platform Swap, AI-fashion company Finesse, and alternative food brand Julienne Bruno, as well as spearheading the opening of the Berlin-based VC funds’ London office.
With any number of VC firms saying they offer portfolio companies value beyond capital, with mixed results, Cherry’s appointment of Dinika Mahtani, an individual with clear, proven time in the trenches goes well to deliver on this promise.
“We would 100 per cent not be where we are today without Dinika’s support, day and night. Whether it’s looking at the designs that we’re building, helping with hiring, and just being there to bounce ideas off, we’re so appreciative of all that she does.” – Sam Atkinson, co-founder, Swap
According to Cherry Ventures, Dinika has led investments in a number of yet-disclosed seed and pre-seed companies and will continue to focus on and lead the firm’s focus on UK-based startups. She is the firm’s first London-based partner and joins investment partners Filip Dames, Christian Meermann, and Jasper Masemann alongside CFO and operating partner Alexander Langholz-Baikousis in Berlin and Sophia Bendz in Stockholm.
Cherry Ventures founding partner Christian Meermann commented:
“Key in further establishing our London presence and investment strategy in the UK, Dinika is a clear leader in the firm and within the portfolio.
“Our team, founders, and many across the ecosystem value her operational experience, collaborative working style, constructive feedback, and the overall substance she brings to any discussion. We’re excited to start 2024 with Dinika firmly aboard the partnership.”
Established in 2013, Cherry Ventures announced its fourth fund at €300 million in January 2022 and its seed investment portfolio has been ranked by Dealroom among the top in Europe due to a 4x higher-than-market seed-to-Series A graduation rate at 75 per cent.
Lead image: Dinika Mahtani via Cherry Ventures. Photo: Uncredited.
