Saum Vahdat

Saum Vahdat is the CEO of Bridgewest Ventures, leading investment strategies and incubation programs, including BVNZ's partnership initiative with the Government of New Zealand. 

As a champion of creative entrepreneurial thinking, Saum enables innovative idea development and new enterprise creation by leveraging strategic business resources and fostering investment in burgeoning deep tech segments. His vision to progress future technologies for the betterment of social, environmental and economic growth, has led to several disruptive new ventures.

With hands-on oversight and pragmatic management methodologies, Saum guides portfolio companies through the common challenges faced by young businesses, to accelerate and improve commercialization timelines. Utilizing a core team culture that capitalizes on development platforms and expertise ecosystems within BV and BVNZ, entrepreneurs, CEOs and partners actively share best practices and business relationships, resulting in heightened product impact and economic success.

Previously, Saum worked with Johnson & Johnson's venture capital platform, and led financial analysis and business development for a global real estate investment firm.

Saum holds Cornell University MBA focused on Finance and is an active member of the San Diego Chapter of Young Presidents Organization (YPO).