Charting the future of finance

Sameet Mehta appointed new CAFIN advisory board chair

Sameet Mehta
Sameet Mehta brings expertise and innovation to his new role as advisory board chair of the Center for Analytical Finance (CAFIN). Photo: contributed.

In the high-stakes world of venture capital and analytics, Sameet Mehta has built a career turning data into decisions and ideas into impactful businesses. As the newly appointed advisory board chair of the Center for Analytical Finance (CAFIN) at UC Santa Cruz, Mehta brings a wealth of expertise, a proven track record of innovation, and a clear vision for connecting academic research with the real-world challenges of today’s financial landscape.

Mehta’s career journey is as dynamic as the markets CAFIN seeks to understand. With extensive experience as a venture capitalist and co-founder of cutting-edge companies, Mehta has honed his ability to navigate complex financial systems and identify transformative opportunities. This unique blend of analytical rigor and entrepreneurial insight makes him the perfect leader to help steer CAFIN into its next chapter. 

Building bridges between academia and industry

CAFIN is a hub for research and innovation in data science, economics, and financial studies. Housed in UC Santa Cruz’s Economics Department, the center works to demystify complex financial issues, ultimately preparing the next generation of leaders to navigate an ever-evolving financial landscape. By analyzing big data and applying machine learning, CAFIN researchers tackle questions that range from how blockchain can revolutionize payments to ways to mitigate financial risks on a global scale.

Mehta aims to deepen the program’s impact by strengthening connections with industry leaders and expanding opportunities for students. 

“CAFIN is more than an academic center,” Mehta says. “It’s a place where theory meets practice and where students can develop the skills to lead in the world of finance.”

Mehta hopes that his deep understanding of finance and extensive network will help CAFIN broaden its reach and relevance. Under his board leadership, he seeks to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, expand partnerships, and ensure the center’s work addresses real-world challenges.

Outgoing CAFIN board chair, Stephen Bruce, is confident that CAFIN is in excellent hands. 

"Sameet is incredibly talented and well-connected, with a remarkable ability to collaborate and innovate," Bruce says. "His leadership will take CAFIN to the next level, building on its strong foundation and driving impactful work in finance and technology."

Nirvikar Singh, CAFIN founding director and distinguished professor of economics at UCSC, agrees. 

“CAFIN is very fortunate to have Sameet taking over as advisory board chair from Steve Bruce,” Singh says. “Sameet works at the cutting edge of finance and technology in the innovation capital of the world, and his leadership will be invaluable as we tackle existential challenges such as how to fund new steps to manage climate change, and how to cope with fundamental changes in our financial infrastructure.”

A leader shaped by experience

Mehta’s academic background demonstrates a strong foundation in both technical and business disciplines. He holds a B.S. in electrical engineering and a certificate in applied mathematics from Princeton University and an M.B.A. from Stanford Business School. Mehta has been an engineer, investor, and executive in Silicon Valley for twenty years. In addition to his current role with Granite Hill Capital Partners, an early stage VC fund, he stepped in as board member and CFO/COB  for SentinelOne through its growth years, leading to the largest CyberSecurity IPO to date. Before founding Granite Hill, Mehta spent seven years in M&A and strategic venture capital with Cisco. He was previously with Lehman Brothers in the technology investment banking group.

These experiences have not only honed Mehta’s business acumen, they have also given him a deep appreciation for the potential of academic research to inform industry practices.

“The most exciting breakthroughs happen when academia and industry work hand in hand,” he says. “That’s what makes CAFIN so unique—it’s a place where those worlds naturally converge.”

From mentoring students to shaping global financial conversations, Mehta’s expertise and vision are set to make a lasting impact. 

“CAFIN has the potential to transform how we think about finance and its role in addressing global challenges,” he says. “I’m honored to be part of this journey.”