Asha Jadeja

Asha Jadeja is an Indian-American venture capitalist and philanthropist based in the United States. She is the founder of the Motwani Jadeja Family Foundation. Jadeja is also known for supporting programs related to entrepreneurship, education, and academic exchange between the United States and India.
Early Life and Education
Jadeja completed undergraduate and graduate studies in civil engineering and urban planning at the University of Southern California.
Career
Venture Capital and Investing
Jadeja began her career in venture investing alongside her husband, the late Rajeev Motwani, a professor of computer science at Stanford University. The couple was reportedly among the early investors in Google, where Motwani served as an academic mentor to the company’s founders. Following his death in 2009, Jadeja continued to invest in early-stage startups. Her portfolio has included companies such as PayPal, Pinterest, AppDynamics, Meraki, and Mimosa.
In 2000, Jadeja and Motwani co-founded Dot Edu Ventures, an early-stage venture fund focused on technology companies, particularly those affiliated with Stanford University.
Philanthropy
Motwani Jadeja Family Foundation
In 2012, Jadeja established the Motwani Jadeja Family Foundation (MJF), a nonprofit organization based in Palo Alto, California. The foundation supports initiatives in entrepreneurship, academic research, and technology education. Programs supported by MJF include:
* Rajeev Circle Fellowship - A mentorship program for entrepreneurs from South Asia.
* MakerFest India - An innovation event modeled after Maker Faire and focused on youth and grassroots creators.
* FabLab CEPT - A digital fabrication lab established at CEPT University in Ahmedabad, India.
Academic Collaborations
In July 2025, Jadeja helped launch the Motwani Jadeja Institute for American Studies (MJIAS) at O.P. Jindal Global University. According to media reports, the institute was created to promote research, policy dialogue, and academic exchange between India and the United States.
Earlier, the foundation made a gift to support the 21st Century India Center at the University of California, San Diego, aimed at promoting U.S.-India academic collaboration.
Other Initiatives
Jadeja has also supported programs related to cultural diplomacy. In 2021, she partnered with UC Berkeley and the Kochi-Muziris Biennale on an initiative to support Indian representation at international art events such as the Venice Biennale.
Personal Life
Jadeja was married to Rajeev Motwani until his death in 2009. The couple had two children. She is based in Palo Alto, California.

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