The Startup System.

Vijay Rajendran is a Berkeley-trained executive coach based in Silicon Valley. After 20 years as an entrepreneur, investor, and advisor, he has supported hundreds of founders and helped them on their journey to becoming CEOs. He believes that through leadership coaching at pivotal moments, we can better the world, one bold leader at a time.

Vijay has led portfolio value at 500 Global, a venture capital firm with $2.7 billion under management. He led a global team that helped startups in over 80 countries, and their founders, develop connections, raise capital, and create a thriving community. Previously, he led a venture studio for a global bank, founded a startup in fintech and e-commerce, and was a management consultant. Vijay received a BS in Business Administration from Boston University as well as an MS in Foreign Service and an MBA from Georgetown University. He is also an alumnus of the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute and holds the Associate Certified Coach credential from the International Coaching Federation. Vijay is the author of the 2025 top new release, The Funding Framework: Secure Startup Funding with Confidence, published by Leader's Press.

Vijay spent many years as a strategy consultant. Of course, coaching is very different from consulting and mentoring; the agenda and goals are set by clients, rather than by providing solutions to generic situations or trying to fix them as individuals. He helps them be resilient rather than perfect. Being authentic and being themselves. They can bring their genius to work and wake up every day feeling limitless and fulfilled.