Team | Samudra Pacific

Since our inception in 2014, Samudra Pacific has been focused on building a strategic, high-quality portfolio of technology funds and companies.

Samudra Pacific partners with top fund managers who are innovative, experienced, and aligned with our investment goals, as well as visionary entrepreneurs and repeat founders with proven technical expertise. We seek out emerging businesses with the potential to transform their industries and make a significant impact in their markets.People and relationships are critical to success in our business. Our team shares core values: honesty, integrity, competency and excellence. We are comprised of seasoned technology, finance, and business professionals with strong networks in Silicon Valley, who are passionate about building outstanding companies.As a fund of funds and family office specialist, we bring an additional layer of expertise to our investments, providing solutions that cater to the strategic angle and unique needs of our partners. In addition to our core team, we have a broad network of business connections that help our entrepreneurs achieve their goals and provide them with unparalleled access to market opportunities in the Asia Pacific region.Our main tenet is to foster innovation and build long-lasting relationships based on mutual trust is at the heart of everything we do, ensuring that our portfolio companies thrive in a competitive landscape.

Investment StewardshipAs stewards of our clients' wealth, our firm carefully selects investments with an owner-operator mindset. We are deeply committed to the long-term best interests of our founders, partners, and investors. Specializing as a fund of funds and family office, we ensure a diversified and strategic approach to wealth management.

Solution OrientedNavigating business challenges is a crucial step in the success of our founders. Our partners have extensive backgrounds in operating high-growth tech businesses, cultivating relationships in the industry, and identifying the right solutions. We provide customized solutions and strategies to address our clients' specific needs.

Tech InsiderOur diverse background and trusted networks across many cultures form the foundation of our investment insights. Perspective is our edge as a gatekeeper for Silicon Valley’s best ideas. We leverage these insights to create exceptional value to our clients.

Investment Team

Tirto Adji

Managing Partner

Tirto Adji, a technologist and investor with over 25 years in Silicon Valley, holds a MSc in Computer Science from SJSU, and credentials in AI/ML and Business Management from Stanford. He spent 10 years at Yahoo! Big Data and Analytics Group before moving into the start-up space. His industry knowledge and global network enable him to connect tech hubs and drive innovation.

As the founding partner of Palapa Ventures and Samudra Pacific, Tirto has invested in over 50 Silicon Valley startups, including Lyft, Coinbase, Rippling, and Alto Pharmacy. His experience as a founder, operator, board member, and investor gives him deep technical and business insights.

Raymond Murthi

Partner

Raymond is a Partner at Samudra Pacific, overseeing all aspects of investment activities, from deal sourcing and assessment to execution. He has held both management and technical roles at high-growth startups and Fortune 100 companies, including Rocket Fuel, Gilt Groupe, and Goldman Sachs.

As an active investor and advisor, Raymond supports seed-stage and growth-stage startups, with a portfolio that includes Addepar, Alto, Flexport, Rubrik, and SpaceX. He holds engineering degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.

Guntur Putra

Venture Partner

Guntur is responsible for identifying and assessing potential investment opportunities, as well as investor relations. He is the co-founder of Pinnacle Investment, Indonesia's first quantitative-driven asset manager. Previously, he co-founded Ares Capital, a quantitative research advisory firm where he advised top asset management firms and managed global investment funds for institutional clients.

Prior to Ares Capital, Guntur worked on Wall Street with Credit Suisse and BlackRock. He holds a Master's in Financial Engineering from the University of Michigan and a BS in Computer Science with a minor in Business from Arizona State University.

Andri Yauhari

Venture Partner

Andri, using his extensive experience and industry knowledge, mentors the companies within the firm’s portfolio. He has deep understanding of financial sector, market dynamics, and the challenges faced by emerging companies.

Andri was the co-founder of Pinnacle Investment and Ares Capital, developed quantitative models for pricing exotic finance instruments. He previously managed multi-billion dollar fixed income portfolios at Deutsche Bank and JPM.

Andri graduated with MS degree in Financial Engineering from UC Berkeley and BS in Chemical Engineering from University of Wisconsin in Madison. He is also a CFA charter holder.

William Cheuk, Ph.D.

Venture Partner

William Cheuk, Ph.D. Venture Partner William is a technology executive and entrepreneur with over 20 years of cross-border leadership experiences in North America and Asia, and has received multiple international awards recognizing his contributions to innovation and high-tech commercialization : Canadian New Immigrant High-tech Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2004); 100 Outstanding Young Chinese Descent in the world - State Council of China (2005) Canadian High Tech Productivity Awards (CIPA): Outstanding Innovation Award (2007) Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Delta, British Columbia, Canada (2007) Top Ten Chinese Economic Talents (2010)

William has held senior roles and directorships across enterprises and government agencies, including Canadian Wheat Board (appointed by Prime Minister of Canada), Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC, Commissioner of BC Vegetable Board, Chairman of BC Greenhouse Association.

His multinational experience and cross-cultural relationships strengthen our ability to support our venture projects and evaluate technologies positioned for global expansion.

Conner Lusk

Associate

Conner is responsible for creating investment memos, sector research and analysis, analyzing pitch decks, and special projects for portfolio companies.

Conner is currently pursuing a BS in Computer Science at Northeastern University with a strong interest in the application of AI in healthcare. He has experience as a software engineer within the startup ecosystem at Reprise — a Series B startup leading the market in demo creation. Conner also has worked on cutting edge health tech research at Stanford Medicine and within the VA Hospital System.

Stephanie Lee

Analyst

Stephanie researches frontier technologies, combining sourcing, thesis development, valuation, competitive intelligence, and end-to-end diligence to inform investment decisions. Her sector work spans agentic AI, AI infrastructure, humanoids/embodied robotics, blockchain, sustainable technologies, fintech, healthtech, and biotech. She also supports fundraising content, pitch and media creation.

Prior experience includes private equity, hedge funds, and asset management, with additional background in quantitative modeling. She earned a B.A. in Mathematics & Economics from Carleton College, and completed programs at Dartmouth Tuck and Berkeley Haas.

Zoe Lusk

Associate

Zoe is responsible for creating investment memos, sector research and analysis, and assisting with other projects.

She is currently a medical student at Duke University, where she also earned a BS in Neuroscience and was a member of the Varsity Swim and Dive team. After graduation, she worked at Stanford's Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience as a lab manager and research assistant, focusing on the intersection of computational neuroscience and healthcare.

Dr. Mohammed Alqarni

Advisor

Dr. Mohammed Alqarni is a seasoned AI expert and advisor with a Ph.D. in Computer Science, complemented by executive education from Harvard and London Business School. As a co-founder of several high-tech ventures, including Foresighted AI, Dr. Alqarni specializes in helping organizations leverage AI for strategic growth and operational efficiency. His work spans AI consultancy, digital transformation, and innovation, making him a valuable asset in guiding startups and established businesses in the AI and tech sectors.

With over 70 peer-reviewed publications and significant contributions to research and policy, including involvement in the G20 Presidency, Dr. Alqarni's insights are rooted in academic excellence and practical experience. His expertise in technology and AI, in particular, strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement, equips him to provide high-level advisory services to companies looking to innovate and scale in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Alina Canzano

Analyst

Alina is a Presidential Scholar in the USC Marshall School of Business, pursuing a Business Administration major with a STEM designation. Alina performs financial and market risk analysis to deliver investment memos and works with portfolio companies to support strategic decision-making, track performance metrics, and identify opportunities for value creation. Alina is passionate about impact-driven ventures, global development, and sustainable innovation that addresses systemic challenges across emerging markets. She co-founded a nonprofit serving unhoused communities in California’s Central Valley. Alina interned in Lima, Peru, for Juguete Pendiente, where she developed a three-part garment upcycling strategy, benchmarked global NGO practices across five continents, and helped reduce projected annual operating costs through sustainable sourcing and AI-driven partnerships.

Support Team

Jon O'Connell

General Counsel

Jon O'Connell is the legal counsel and a partner at Crowell Moring heading the VC and Corporate Group. Jon advises on matters related to corporate governance, VC financings, commercial transactions, and mergers and acquisitions.

Jon has managed one of the most active venture capital financing teams in the industry having completed over 100 preferred stock equity financings. During his legal career at Am Law 100 firms, he has acted as outside general counsel for hundreds of startups in industries ranging from food tech to fintech.

Emily Ah Sing

Controller

Emily is the Finance Director and Controller of Samudra Pacific. She has over 15+ years of venture capital fund accounting and fund administration experience.

Before joining Samudra, Emily led the Fund Administration team at Aduro Advisors and Riedmiller Associates, two leading Service Providers for Private Equity and Venture Capital firms.

Emily has a wealth of experience working at high-tech companies such as Palm WebOS as reporting analyst, Netflix as Global Revenue Manager, and Reidmiller & Associates as Senior Fund Administrator.

Prior to that, Emily was the Senior Accountant at Deloitte. Ms. Ah-Sing holds a MS in Accountancy Degree from San Jose State University, and BS in Microbiology in University of California, Davis.

John D. Volk

Tax Partner

With over 30 years of experience in business and legal advising, Tax Partner John Volk focuses primarily on tax and business matters of investment partnerships and pre-public companies. He is recognized nationally as a frequent speaker and panelist at industry conferences.

John is a graduate of Duke Law School (JD) and Claremont McKenna College (BA). He is an active member of the California State Bar.

Outside of the office, John enjoys spending time playing golf, sometimes with his wife, and enjoying a vigorous lifestyle with sports at the center. He also follows the lives and careers of his two grown daughters with great interest. He has a number of enthusiasms – reading (the Economist and the daily NY Times are a must); wine, food and conversation with family and friends; travel; and probably too much Giants baseball and Duke basketball.

Jamie Panizales

Fund Admin

Jamie is the representative for the Samudra Pacific’s Carta Fund Administration, Operation and Services Team. Carta administers the fund of shareholders and ensure clients have up to date information on their funds’ investment performance and compliance. Jamie is an experienced Fund Administrator with over 10 years of experience.

Jamie has worked for variety of financial organizations such as KPMG and Rohtstein Kass. Ms. Panizales worked as Audit Manager for Alternative Investments specializing in fund management and supporting the financial reporting for high-tech industry clients.

AJ Chandra

Finance Director

Alex (AJ) is a seasoned finance professional with more than a decade of work experience. AJ assisted Stradasol clients with their financial modeling, bookkeeping, compliance, fundraising and special finance-related projects. Prior to Stradasol, AJ cut his teeth at Deloitte as a Senior Auditor providing audit, tax, consulting, enterprise risk and financial advisory services for his clients.

AJ graduated from one of the best and acknowledged Universities in Indonesia – Atmajaya, majoring in Accounting minor in Accounting Information System.

Veronica Chen

Executive Assistant

Veronica is a finance professional with over 15 years of experience in accounting, taxation, and financial management. She currently serves as an Executive Assistant and Accountant at Samudra Pacific Capital Partners, where she supports executive scheduling, coordinates meetings, and assists the Finance Director.

She began her career as an Auditor at PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) before moving into finance and accounting roles at Central Park, one of Jakarta’s largest malls, and later at the prestigious Ayana Hotel Jakarta.