From $900 to Billion-Dollar Ventures: A Journey of Resilience and Innovation | Dheeraj Pandery Founder DevRev & Nutanix

Founder Storiez

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dheeraj, who arrived in the U.S. with just $900 and went on to found tech giants Nutanix and DevRev. From growing up in one of India’s poorest states to building multi-billion dollar companies, Dheeraj shares deeply personal stories of sacrifice, resilience, and ambition.

In this episode, discover how education became his gateway, how he balanced family and entrepreneurship, and why staying grounded and humble has been key to his success. Raj opens up about leadership lessons, embracing vulnerability, investing in people, and using philanthropy—especially in computational biology and education—to make a lasting impact.

What You’ll Learn:

Overcoming adversity and the immigrant experience

The role of hunger, perseverance, and innovation

Building and leading billion-dollar tech ventures

Balancing personal values with professional success

The power of philanthropy and legacy

Timestamps:
00:00 Starting from Scratch: A Humble Beginning
00:28 The Power of Education and Perseverance
01:22 Building a Life in the US
02:35 Overcoming Hardships and Family Support
04:23 Lessons in Adversity and Entrepreneurship
07:11 Balancing Wealth and Humility
15:24 The Journey of Nutanix
17:54 Founding DevRev and Future Ambitions
19:09 The Importance of Hunger and Innovation
29:19 The Role of Investors and Early Customers
31:54 Authenticity and Integrity in Leadership
33:34 Embracing Systems and Design
35:01 Mentorship and Personal Growth
40:06 Balancing Dualities in Leadership
51:09 Philanthropy and Purpose
55:39 Reflections on Life and Legacy

About Dheeraj:
Dheeraj is the founder of Nutanix and DevRev. His story is a testament to perseverance, humility, and visionary leadership. He is passionate about innovation, education, and giving back through philanthropy.

About the Host – Ephraim Yarmak:
Ephraim runs TGVG Fund, a micro VC backing early-stage cyber founders. He’s all about real conversations with builders who lead with purpose.

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